After years of waiting and delays, President Joe Biden’s administration finally approved the MTA’s congestion pricing program which would toll drivers who enter Manhattan during rush hour.
The MTA released an analysis report in August of last year showing how car traffic could be reduced as much as 20% if a new tolling program was introduced.
The proposed program would toll non-commercial drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th Street as much as $23 during rush hour (6 a.m. – 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekends).
Those driving trucks could be tolled up to $82.
The Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program would be the first congestion pricing program in the U.S., but the program has helped other cities around the world by reducing traffic, helping improve mass transit, and improving air quality.
If approved, vehicles that enter or remain in the Central Business District would be tolled via an E-ZPass or by mail for those without one.
There are a number of factors that would determine the toll rates per vehicle, and the Traffic Mobility Review Board would consider things such as how traffic might move, air quality and pollution, costs, effect on the public, and safety. MTA’s TBTA Board would have final say on what the rates would actually be.
Other parameters that would be implemented include:
- Charging passenger vehicles only once/day for entering or remaining in the Central Business District
- Changing the toll rates at set times or days
- Allowing residents of the CBD making less than $60,000 to get a New York State tax credit for CBD tolls paid
- Not tolling qualifying authorized emergency vehicles and qualifying vehicles transporting people with disabilities
At the end of the day, this program is intended to discourage driving while also raising money for transit improvements.
After paying the cost of running the CBD Tolling Program, 80% of the money would be used to improve and modernize NYC Transit, 10% would go to the Long Island Rail Road, and 10% to Metro-North Railroad.
Now that the program has received initial approval, a 30-day public review period is now in effect. If fully approved, the program could go into effect as early as spring 2024.