New York City is planning to roll out a congestion pricing program that would charge motorists a $15 fee to drive into Midtown and Lower Manhattan.
Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board on Wednesday approved the congestion pricing plan, making New York City the first American city to roll out such a program. Under the new plant, drivers of most passenger cars will be required to pay $15 a day to enter at 60th Street and below in Manhattan. The toll fee will be higher for larger vehicles and lower for motorcycles. It will also be lower for late-night entries.
Drivers will be charged the toll fee on their E-ZPass. Those without E-ZPass will be mailed a toll bill to the address of the registered vehicle.
Toll gates into Manhattan would be found between 60 and 61 Streets. The toll pricing will not apply to drivers who enter through FDR Drive, West Side Highway, and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street. However, they will be charged if they exit from an excluded roadway onto a street within the Manhattan CBD, according to program guidelines.
New York City's congestion pricing program is expected to begin as early as June once receives approval from the Federal Highway Administration.
Behind NYC's Congestion Pricing Plan
The new congestion pricing program aims to reduce congestion on roads and push more motorists to take public transportation to speed up public buses and emergency vehicles. Additionally, it also aims to reduce pollution in the area and raise funding needed to improve the city's subway system. The program is expected to raise about $1 billion annually.
The program comes after a November study by an advisory committee reporting to the MTA found that implementing a congestion pricing program will reduce the number of vehicles entering Lower Manhattan by about 17%.
The state Legislature first approved of the plan in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of guidance from federal regulators stalled the program, per the Associated Press.
Despite receiving support from lawmakers, taxi and car service drivers oppose the plan, arguing that toll fees would make fares unaffordable.
