ALBANY, N.Y. Marathon negotiations and the lure of a $500 million federal revenue windfall was too much for New York lawmakers to resist as they adopted legislation last month that pumped new life into Mayor Michael Bloombergs controversial plan for congestion fees in Manhattan.

(See July 1 and Aug. 1 issues of Bus & Motorcoach News.)

Shortly after state lawmakers approved creation of a 17-member commission to consider different plans for reducing traffic congestion in central and lower Manhattan, Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed the legislation.

The legislation authorizes New York City to apply for federal financing up to $500 million to help fund the mayors plan.

Those pushing the legislation that was adopted said Bloombergs plan to impose a fee on trucks, cars and presumably buses that travel in Manhattan below 86th Street would be one of several congestion-reduction plans studied by the commission.

They also note that any plan recommended by the commission would require approval of the Legislature, where opposition to Bloombergs scheme still runs strong.

Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky of Westchester, a vocal critic of congestion pricing, co-sponsored the compromise bill and voted for it, saying he and many others viewed the commission strictly as a mechanism for delving more deeply into the substantive questions raised by the mayors proposal. "You cant say no to a process set up to answer your questions," Brodsky told a New York newspaper.

But several of his Democratic colleagues from predominantly minority communities voted against the bill. They suggested the legislation was tantamount to approving Bloombergs plan.

"It appears to me, reading the bill, that were on the march to approve congestion pricing," said N. Nick Perry, a Brooklyn assemblyman.

Bloomberg appeared eager to foster that impression, saying in a statement that he was confident that through the commission, "our proposal for congestion pricing will be implemented."

The commission bill passed the Senate, 39 to 19, and the Assembly, 122 to 16.

The commission will have members appointed by city and state elected officials, including the mayor and the governor. It has until Jan. 31 to submit a final congestion plan back to Bloomberg, Spitzer, the Legislature and the City Council, and they in turn have until March 31 to approve the plan. The city may not collect any congestion fees until a plan is approved.