Gov. Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing revival received the MTA’s inexperienced gentle Monday – clearing the way in which for Manhattan drivers to be hit with $15 tolls by 2031.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority board OK’d the governor’s phased-in congestion pricing plan in a 12 to 1 vote.
Congestion pricing’s return is “huge for the MTA,” stated Janno Lieber, the company’s chair. He argued motorists, transit riders and companies would profit from this system decreasing visitors in Manhattan.
“It’s a hopeful moment for drivers as well as for transit riders and for everybody because life can and should get a lot better if you have to drive to New York, if you elect to drive to New York, if you’re not spending as much time in congestion,” he stated. “If you can save 10, 20 or even 30 minutes your time is money.”
The procedural vote went off with out a lot fanfare in contrast with the general public fury each in favor of and in opposition to the long-awaited plan to toll vehicles coming into Manhattan beneath sixtieth Avenue, which is now set to take impact Jan. 5.
Hochul final week introduced she’d carry the “pause” on this system – enacted over the summer time simply days earlier than tolling was first slated to kick off – and carry it out with a $9 toll, as an alternative of the unique $15.
However largely hidden in Hochul’s gross sales pitch was the truth that the decrease toll would steadily improve to the $15 that had been permitted final yr by the MTA.
The phase-in provided by Hochul – and ratified by board members Monday – calls to hike tolls to $12 in 2028 and the total $15 in 2031.
Many opponents have forged congestion pricing as a tax on hard-working commuters and New Yorkers who drive.
Lieber stated 143,000 folks drive into the congestion toll zone day by day, in comparison with 6.5 million who take transit.
He argued the tolls will assist make the subways and commuter trains higher, and certain attract drivers who’ll take a second take a look at taking the rails.
“Don’t believe the hype when people want to represent that this is some sort of dystopian hellscape,” he stated. “The New York mass transit system is so much safer than many, many other places in the states where people rail about congestion pricing and rail about New York. Take a look at the crime rates in their major cities.”
