The congestion of Manhattan has, for decades, been a subject of concern for the residents of the Big Apple, and for the mayor of New York. As in other metropolises on the planet, we deplore the congestion of the streets, the air pollution… But are things about to change? Starting in June, southern Manhattan will no longer be accessible to two or four wheels without payment. Unless the courts object.
An old idea about to see the light of day
Charging motorists to access the heart of the Big Apple is not a new idea. The project has even been in the city’s pipeline since 2007, at the suggestion of the mayor at the time, businessman Michael Bloomberg. But the principle, which of course is not unanimous, particularly in suburban towns, was only adopted twelve years later, in 2019, by Bill de Blasio, a democratic councilor with strong left-wing ties.
Fifteen dollars to access the south of Central Park
The project does not cover all of New York City, or even the entire island of Manhattan. It is to access the heart of Manhattan, namely the part south of Central Park, to the tip of the island, that motorists will have to pay $15 during the day ($3.75 at night). A sum to pay when accessing from the north, but also from Queens and Brooklyn, on the other side of the East River, or when coming from New Jersey, on the other bank of the Hudson River. Reductions are provided for low incomes.
The system, already in place, will allow payment by plate or by electronic toll, therefore without impact on the flow. On the other hand, according to MTA projections, daily traffic should be reduced by some 100,000 cars, a significant proportion for traffic estimated today at 700,000 vehicles. Trucks and motorcycles are also affected: the former will have to pay between 24 and 36 dollars, depending on their size; the others $7.50.
A first in the United States, contested in court
After years of procrastination and blockage, between administrative red lights and political bickering, the project now seems to be on the right track. But there are still a few potholes to avoid. The first is at the federal level, which has a say. A priori, the Biden administration should not object to New York imitating London, Stockholm or even Singapore.
The second concerns legal recourse. Because this project, of course, also makes people unhappy. First in the suburbs, where public transport, lacking investment and insufficient, encourages the use of the car. The State of New Jersey is trying to block this initiative. Then professionals, such as taxis and VTCs, also affected by the toll, but to a lesser extent ($1.25 for the famous yellow cars, double for services like Uber, paid in all cases by customers). The first hearings are scheduled for early April.
2024-03-29 13:02:14
#York #toll #access #center #Manhattan
