New York City Congestion Pricing to Begin June 30th
New York drivers have just over two months before a trip into Manhattan’s Central Business District costs them more than ever before. On Friday, the MTA announced that its controversial congestion program, which will charge drivers a $15 base toll for entering Manhattan below 60th Street, will officially take effect on Sunday, June 30, barring any unforeseen court decisions in the various lawsuits that have been filed against the program.
The program will be implemented despite overwhelming opposition from Staten Islanders and local elected officials, who have long argued that congestion pricing will disproportionately impact borough residents who are more reliant on cars than those in other parts of the city due to Staten Island’s lack of public transit options.
About the Program
As part of the $175 billion state budget approved on April 1, 2019, the MTA’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) has been authorized to establish the Central District Business Tolling Program (CBDTP), which will charge travelers a variable fee for driving into Manhattan’s Central Business District, defined as any area south of 60th Street.
Congestion pricing refers to the use of electronic tolling to charge vehicles for entering certain areas, ideally resulting in reduced traffic congestion and increased revenue for transit projects. Revenue generated from the program will be bonded against and placed in a designated MTA “lockbox” to fund capital improvements to the city’s ailing mass transit system.
The program is expected to generate $1 billion annually, which will be used to secure $15 billion in bonds for repairs and improvements to the public transportation system.
Base Toll Rates
The new base tolls will vary based on vehicle type and will be charged on weekdays, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tolls will only be charged when entering the CBD and will be capped at once per day for passenger vehicles, passenger-type vehicles with commercial plates and motorcycles.
Overnight Toll Rates
Toll rates will be discounted by 75% during overnight hours, which are defined as weekdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and weekends from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Crossing Credits
Drivers entering the congestion zone via the Queens-Midtown, Hugh L. Carey, Holland, or Lincoln tunnels will be offered crossing credits. Like the toll rates, the crossing credits would vary based on vehicle type and would only be issued during standard tolling hours.
Discounts & Exemptions
The program features very few discounts and exemptions, as each one would result in an increase to the standard toll so that the program can meet its necessary revenue threshold. As required by state law, emergency vehicles and those carrying people with disabilities will be exempt from the program, with tax credits in place for residents living within the CBD and earning less than $60,000.
Additionally, drivers on the FDR Drive, West Side Highway and the sections of the Battery Park Underpass and Hugh Carey Tunnel that connect the two will not be subject to tolls, unless exiting into the CBD.
