The nation’s first congestion pricing program is taking final shape in New York City, with most drivers likely to pay $15 to enter Manhattan’s busiest streets as soon as next spring.
Transportation officials on Wednesday gave the clearest picture yet of the fees they hope to introduce to raise about $1 billion a year to fund subway and bus network improvements.
After decades of various failed attempts, New York City has announced a new plan aimed at boosting public transit use, reducing pollution and unclogging the world’s busiest roads. It appears poised to join several other global centers in paid programs. 3rd in Manhattan.
In a 19-page report, transit officials narrowed down a dizzying list of tolling possibilities they’ve been studying over the past year to just one. Passenger cars pay a toll of up to $15 once a day, and commercial trucks pay up to $36. Taxis add $1.25 per fare, and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft add $2.50 per trip. The report also shows who can receive the greatest discounts, credits and exemptions, which is hotly debated.
“This is a huge step forward for the region,” said Karl Weisbrod, chairman of the Transportation and Mobility Review Board, the advisory committee that prepared the report. “We’ve seen it work in other places around the world, and now it’s starting to take shape.”
London, Stockholm and Singapore have congestion programs that are considered models because of their success in reducing traffic.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board, which oversees the program, could make tweaks to the fare structure. The advisory group’s report will be released on Thursday and will be open for public comment. And opponents of congestion pricing are still trying to derail it in court.
The plan had been stalled for decades due to a series of complaints from commuters, citizens and business leaders. Many drivers fear they will have to pay new tolls on top of existing ones, and other critics fear traffic and pollution will be diverted to other parts of the city. did. .
Approval of the program has been delayed as various groups seek exemptions, including taxi and Uber drivers and suburban residents. The most aggressive opposition has come from New Jersey legislators, who sued the federal government in July seeking approval for the plan. State officials have expressed concern that tolls would place an unfair economic and environmental burden on residents. The lawsuit remains unresolved.
But for now, nothing prevents the MTA from moving forward with the program and unveiling a pricing structure that will likely be closer to the final version.
The recently proposed $15 fee would be at the lower end of the $9 to $23 fee structure that officials were considering. The advisory group’s fee structure also includes minimal exemptions, discounts and credits, which Weisbrod said was done to benefit “the many, not the few.”
Low-income drivers receive a 50 percent discount on daytime tolls after their first 10 trips in a calendar month. Driving at night is also significantly cheaper, with fares reduced by 75 percent between 9pm and 5am.
Drivers of cars entering congestion pricing zones through the Queens Midtown, Hugh L. Carey, Holland, and Lincoln tunnels will receive a $5 daytime credit. You’ll save $2.50 on motorcycles, $12 off light commercial trucks, and $20 off large trucks.
Certain vehicles carrying disabled persons and certified emergency vehicles are not subject to tolls. People whose primary residence is within a toll district and whose income is less than $60,000 are eligible for a state tax credit equal to the amount of the toll.
Report author I had a hard time deciding The question of how much to charge for commercial trucks comes amid concerns that diverted traffic could pollute the air in some of New York City’s poorest neighborhoods. But the MTA has since formally committed to investing millions of dollars for these communities, including $20 million for programs to combat asthma and air filtration equipment for schools near freeways. Includes $10 million to set up the.
Weisbrod said he hopes commercial drivers will choose to drive at night to ease traffic during the day and prevent new choke points from forming.
The group was also working on how much taxis would cost. Taxi drivers are concerned that rising fares will reduce demand for taxis. A new report recommends making yellow cabs cheaper than for-hire vehicles to allay concerns that the added costs would put them at a disadvantage against Uber and Lyft. However, taxi drivers will not be granted the full exemption they were seeking.
The rates proposed this week will go to public hearings before a final vote, which could come as early as early next year. Meanwhile, the MTA said 60% of the electronic equipment needed for paid drivers has already been installed.