Congestion Pricing Is Coming: Here's What NYC Needs To Know

NEW YORK CITY — A long, bumpy road to congestion pricing in Manhattan is nearing its final stretch.

New Yorkers across the city recently sounded off on tolls for cars entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. They did so in a series of online public input sessions — a necessary bureaucratic step ahead of actually setting up the system in the next year or two.

Most commenters expressed support for congestion pricing's goals of reducing traffic in the city and raising $15 billion for the MTA. The plan could also help a bigger problem than congestion, many argued.

"We can't keep ignoring the fact that climate change is going to alter every aspect of life in New York City," said Tony Melone, a Brooklyn resident, during a Sept. 23 public input session.

"We need to transform our transportation infrastructure so that every resident can get around the city without adding more pollution. A successful response to climate change means getting people out of cars."

But a vocal set of detractors argued the system would be inconvenient and expensive for vehicle owners, especially those in the outer boroughs.

"The wealthiest people already live in Manhattan below 60th Street, so this translates to a tax on the traveling poor and a tax on the outer boroughs," said Margaret Flanagan during the same session that Melone spoke at.

The MTA's public input sessions will continue into this week — and the agency's federally required environmental review is expected to take 16 months.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly accused MTA and state officials of taking too long.

"I think bluntly the MTA has been dragging their feet, the state's been dragging their feet, the federal government's been dragging their feet," he said Friday on WNYC's "Brian Lehrer Show." "It's time to get this done. It's urgently necessary to reduce congestion, to reduce emissions."

But as New Yorkers and area residents make their voices heard — and government officials slowly but surely make their way through bureaucratic roadblocks — congestion pricing is likely not so much a matter of if, but when.

Patch has put together a primer on what New Yorkers, car owners, straphangers and commuters need to know.

I'm lost. What's congestion pricing?

Simply put: for New York City, a toll for cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street.

The program — in government lingo — is called the Central Business District Tolling Program.

But why?

Have you seen Manhattan? Congestion is bad.

Travel speeds between 2010 and 2018 dropped 23 percent, according to a study.

We're talking average speeds of 7 mph in the parts of Manhattan that will be covered by the tolls.

The MTA is also in need of cash.

Setting up tolls is projected to bring in $1 billion a year, or $15 billion overall for the MTA, officials said.

"After paying the cost of running the CBDTP, 80% of the money would be used to improve and modernize New York City Transit, which runs the subway system and buses; 10% would go to Long Island Rail Road, and 10% to Metro-North Railroad," the MTA's congestion pricing primer states.

Where will it be?

Vehicles that are driven into Manhattan south of 60th Street are subject to the tolls, with some exceptions.

Those exceptions are:

• FDR Drive
• West Side Highway/9A, Battery Park Underpass and any surface roadway portions of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street

Cameras and sensors on poles will track vehicles, officials said.

I own a car and live outside Manhattan. How much will it cost me?

Final prices aren't set, but officials anticipate it'll be between $9 and $23 for automobiles with an E-ZPass, said Allison L. C. de Cerreño, deputy chief operating officer for the MTA.

Tolls for automobiles that pay by mail are anticipated to be $14 to $35, she said.

"Again, depending on scenario," she said. "Off-peak and overnight toll ranges may be lower. And tolls for trucks and other vehicle types would have different ranges."

Vehicles will be charged only once each day and toll rates could change depending on the time or day.

And emergency vehicles and those transporting people with disabilities will be exempt from tolls

People who live in the toll zone and make less than $60,000 will get a state tax credit for the tolls they pay.

Wait, I live in the toll zone. Will I get charged once a day?

No, only if you drive outside the zone and come back in.

I've been hearing about congestion pricing for years, but nothing happened. Why is everyone talking about it now?

Let's make this long story short.

The congestion pricing plan got approval in 2019 but former President Donald Trump's administration stopped a key environmental review. The new Biden administration in March then signed off on the review.

Now, the MTA public input sessions are in full swing until Oct. 13 and are crystallizing the fact the long-awaited plan likely will happen.

Could it be stopped?

Congestion pricing still has a lot of moving governmental parts.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy this week threatened to use the "nuclear option" of blocking Port Authority decisions if congestion pricing applies to commuters from his state, Politico reported.

De Blasio said he understands Murphy is standing up for his constituents, but noted there's plenty of room for discussion.

"If there are some appropriate things to be addressed, like, you know, should your George Washington Bridge toll be counted so you're not double tolled?" he told WNYC's Brian Lehrer. "OK, that's a fair discussion.

"I think there's a lot of things we can do to appropriately lighten the burden without losing the value of congestion pricing, which is that it should discourage people from using their cars, when there's lots of other great opportunities and alternatives, and allow us to deal with a growing emissions problem and congestion problem. I think that we can strike the balance."

When will congestion pricing finally actually happen?

Assuming no major roadblocks, sometime in 2022 or 2023 when the environmental review is over.

How can I give my input on this?

Click here for a schedule on remaining public meetings.