New York to introduce Manhattan’s $9 congestion charge in January By Reuters
Written by David Shepardson
(Reuters) – New York plans to reinstate a $9 congestion charge for driving in Manhattan from January that the state permanently suspended earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul said on Thursday.
New York City’s tolling system, the first of its kind in the United States, would initially charge $15 during daylight hours for passenger cars driving in Manhattan south of 60th Street starting June 30. However, before that date, just before that. , Hochul suspended the program permanently, citing high inflation and the desire not to discourage passengers and tourists.
But now, New York is scrambling to use the case before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump said on Thursday that he strongly disagreed with the decision to spend the money. “It will put New York City at a disadvantage in competing cities and states, and businesses will flee,” he said in a statement.
London implemented a similar charge in 2003.
Hochul said the new base fare for passenger cars will be $9, which is 40% lower than originally announced. He said the money is essential for new investments in subways and buses in New York, and that it will support $15 billion in debt financing to improve mass transit.
Trucks and buses will pay up to $21.60, and there will be 75% discounts for overnight travel. The fee will be charged once a day regardless of the number of trips car owners make, while taxis will pay 75 cents per trip in the Manhattan area and Uber (NYSE:) or Lyft (NASDAQ:) cars reserved by the app will pay $1.50 per trip.
Hochul said the funding will help “start reducing gridlock and emissions, as intended, and will bring significant environmental improvements.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is used by about 6 million people every day, will vote on Monday to approve the toll. The MTA has agreed not to raise the $9 toll before 2028.
The MTA said the congestion pricing would reduce traffic by 17%, improve air quality, and increase transit use by 1% to 2%. After delays, the MTA in June said it would freeze $16.5 billion in capital projects.
A spokeswoman for the US Department of Transportation said New York has notified the Federal Highway Administration of revised plans to proceed with the toll starting at $9 for passenger vehicles. The agency is finalizing the necessary steps to finalize the agreement for the program to be operational.
A group of five New York Republicans in the US House of Representatives this week urged Trump to kill the case, asking him to end “this senseless price tag collection.” Some New Jersey Democrats also oppose the bill and have vowed to fight it.
In 2019, state lawmakers approved a plan to help finance mass transit improvements using tolls to manage traffic in New York City, the most congested city of any American city.
New York said more than 900,000 vehicles enter Manhattan’s Central Business District every day, reducing travel speeds to about 7 miles (11 km) per hour on average.
