The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board voted on Dec. 6 to approve a congestion pricing program and begin public review of a tolling structure for drivers entering New York City’s Central Business District (CBD) in Manhattan.
Officials said the initiative will make New York City a global leader in transportation policy and that the plan is expected to generate $1 billion in revenue for the MTA while improving air quality.
“Congestion pricing means cleaner air, better transit and less gridlock on New York City’s streets and today’s vote by the MTA Board is a critical step forward,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “The proposal approved today heeds my call to lower the toll rate by nearly 35 percent from the maximum rate originally considered.”
Last week the Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB), an advisory body, recommended that passenger vehicles and passenger-type vehicles with commercial license plates should be charged a $15 toll for entering the city’s CBD and that trucks should be charged a $24 or $36 toll, depending on their size. Congestion toll rates would apply during the most congested times of the day – from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Toll rates would be 75 percent lower at night.
The MTA board voted to begin public review of the new tolling structure that was recommended by the TMRB. Once the 60-day comment period ends, a series of hybrid virtual and in-person public hearings will be held. The dates and times have yet to be announced.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board will review the feedback, implement any changes, and schedule a final vote to authorize adoption.
“Today’s a big day, people have been talking about congestion pricing for generations – going back to the late ’60s,” Janno Lieberm MTA chairman and CEO, said. “We have a plan, produced by an incredibly thoughtful [Traffic Mobility Review Board], that achieves our big goals – keeping the toll low, providing big night and weekend discounts and also discounts and exemptions for the folks who really need to drive. Process-wise, we have a ways to go but we have already done 25+ public meetings and hearings, responded to 70,000 comments, so we’re determined to keep moving forward to implementation.”
Tolling would begin in late spring.