NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin assessing congestion pricing tolls — the fee for vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street, which will be used to fund transit projects — on Sunday, June 30, the agency has announced.
Meanwhile, the news site amNY.com reports that, in concert with the start of the pricing plan, the MTA plans to offer discounts on monthly Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad passes in an effort to lure current drivers onto public transit.
The MTA estimates the congestion pricing program will result in 100,000 fewer vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone each day and provide $15 billion for MTA transit projects.
“Five years after the Legislature made congestion pricing New York State law, and with 4,000 pages of analysis, hundreds of hearings and outreach meetings behind us, New Yorkers are ready for the benefits – less traffic, cleaner air, safer streets and better transit,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said in a press release.
A new MTA website explains the program; the agency also has begun accepting applications for discounts and exemptions based on income, disabilities, and for emergency and other specialized vehicles.
The amNY report says the discount program, outlined in a document on the MTA website, would apply to fares within the City fare zone. The pilot program would last at least 12 months; the MTA board is scheduled to vote on the proposal later this week.
As the New York Times reports, the plan still faces widespread opposition — as well as a half-dozen lawsuits — that could delay or block its implementation. An attorney involved in one of those cases said MTA’s intent to proceed amounted to “arrogant disgard” of the suits. The agency has said that a number of major projects are dependent on the funding and has placed some spending on hold until it was assured of receiving the toll revenue [see “MTA details projects at risk …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 27, 2024].
If 100,000 fewer vehicles will enter the toll zone, then how will MTA reap the billions it thinks it will get for capital projects?
Those who live in lower Manhattan already know how to use mass transit. I wouldn’t have a problem with this IF there were more options from places like New Jersey. Adding more trains to NYP is meaningless. Extending the 7 to Secaucus would help. Adding transit to the Tappan Zee corridor would also be a plus.
There exist valid arguments pro and con on this subject. It is worth noting that many other than the affluent oppose the plan, while many, who benefit from MTA upgraded service and are regular fare-payers back it.
So low-income people get a break and middle income or higher income people cross-subsidize them.
In other words, yet one more income transfer scheme. Tax the hell out of the economy, then return some of the taxes to people with lower incomes.
This whole scheme is going to fall flat on its face. The government runs out of money, so it finds something else to tax, and on and on and on and on.
Let’s face plan facts: unless other programs are cut, we can’t afford the ever-ballooning capital and operating costs of public transportation.