MTA Proposes Expensive New York Tolls for Driving in Manhattan – NBC New York (47)

NEW YRK – Do you wish the city would do something to combat all the traffic that has returned to the city since the pandemic? That wish can come true, and it could have a huge impact on your wallet.

After a long wait, an environmental assessment reviewing the proposed congestion pricing in Manhattan was finally released Wednesday morning, with the MTA saying the plan would have a major impact on the city from economic, environmental and transit perspectives. .

Under the plan, motorists entering Manhattan below 60th Street will be charged a toll electronically, with the exceptions of West Side Highway and FDR Drive, which would not be part of the toll plan. The revenue, estimated at $1 billion annually, would be used to support loans for capital improvements to the MTA’s bus and subway systems.

The MTA released seven different scenarios for the toll plan, with peak period toll rates for entering the “Central Business District” below 60th Street ranging from $9 to $23, depending on the version implemented. In virtually all plan configurations, the “peak” would be 6 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekends.

The environmental assessment tested seven different possible toll scenarios, including different toll rates and a variety of exemptions. The evaluation found that the program would benefit (or at worst not harm) most of the issues that were analyzed, including regional air quality, regional transportation, and parking.

According to the results of the evaluation, the implementation of tolls would achieve its main objective of reducing traffic in the affected area. It would also reduce congestion in the area, shorten travel times, increase economic productivity and keep energy consumption low, the MTA said.

As for environmental impacts, the assessment found that pollution would drop by about 11 percent in Downtown and Lower Manhattan, as well as nearly nine percent in Upper Manhattan. There would be benefits to other areas as well, but these turned out to be much smaller. For example, Hudson County in New Jersey would see pollution decrease by just three percent.

Some areas would actually see an increase, according to the assessment, but none exceeded two percent, with most less than a quarter of a percentage jump.

There would also be a noticeable increase in the reliability of MTA buses and a moderate increase in public transit ridership of about one to two percent, the study found.

The MTA president and Janno Lieber touted the results of the assessment, saying it would provide “widespread benefits” for the entire city.

“Bottom line: This is good for the environment, good for public transportation, and good for New York and the region. We look forward to public comment in the coming weeks,” Lieber said.

He was not alone in his praise, as New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez said congestion pricing was necessary to “invest in public transportation, curb emissions and reduce traffic, which it’s back to pre-COVID levels.”

MTA Communications Director Tim Minton called the proposal “a win for the entire region.”

“The value of congestion pricing is clear: less traffic, less pollution and more reliable public transportation for the vast majority of commuters, including New Jerseyans, who take trains and buses to Manhattan,” Minton said.

But not everyone has been on board. At least one MTA board member has previously stated that he plans to oppose the congestion pricing plan, saying the economy is too uncertain right now.

“They have to find a better way,” said MTA board member David Mack.

The assessment found that there could be adverse effects for some, such as low-income drivers who have no alternatives to travel, or those who operate taxis and other for-hire vehicles. For those cases, the MTA could create a series of mitigations or exemptions that would help offset the cost burden those drivers would have to bear.

Some lawmakers in New Jersey have said the plan is unfair because motorists already pay tolls on bridges and tunnels to get into New York, and the congestion pricing money will not be used to improve public transportation in New Jersey. Some motorists who pay tolls to enter Manhattan from New Jersey are expected to receive discounts or be exempt.

The tolls are not expected to be implemented until the end of 2023 at the earliest. The New York state legislature approved a conceptual plan for congestion pricing in 2019 and was initially projected to be in place in 2021. But the pandemic and a lack of guidance from federal regulators on the kind of environmental review that was required They combined to stop the project. , until guidance was finally provided in 2021.

It is not yet known how much the congestion pricing toll will be. Five people were appointed to the traffic mobility review board last month, which is tasked with deciding how much the toll will be and how many New Yorkers are exempt.

The MTA will hold a series of hearings before the end of the month to collect comments, which will also be accepted via online, email, phone and fax comments beginning August 10. The series of six public hearings will be held in late August. , on the following dates and times:

• Thursday, August 25, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, August 27, 10 am to 1 pm
• Sunday, August 28, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Monday, August 29, 1 pm to 4 pm
• Tuesday, August 30, 5 pm to 8 pm
• Wednesday, August 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will also be an Environmental Justice Stakeholders Working Group on August 19 at 1 pm, as well as the Environmental Justice Technical Advisory Group meeting on August 22 at 1 pm

After the meetings are held and all public input is collected, the Federal Highway Administration must issue final approval to the environmental plan before the project can go forward.

–