The Federal Highway Administration and its partners recently completed an environmental review of Manhattan Central Business District Tolling, a congestion pricing program.
The agency concluded the program should meet its objectives of reducing congestion and overall vehicle miles traveled.
The state mandated the program in 2019. It will charge a toll on vehicles traveling into Manhattan south of and inclusive of 60th Street, with exclusions for through-traffic, and on portions of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street.
The Traffic Mobility Review Board will develop a recommended toll structure and report to the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority board of directors. The board would need to adopt and establish the tolling structure.
If a adopted, tolling could begin as early as May 2024.
The program is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve overall regional air quality, and create a more equitable and accessible transit system.
Approximately 110,000 to 143,000 fewer vehicles daily will enter Manhattan on the Brooklyn Bridge, according to the final environmental assessment, a 15 percent to 20 percent reduction.
Of those who commute to work in Manhattan’s Central Business District, 85 percent use public transportation and 11 percent drive.
The assessment studied a 28 county area.