New York City drivers could face up to $23 a day congestion charge

By David Shepardson
(Reuters) – New York Metropolis might introduce a site visitors congestion cost of as much as $23 a day late subsequent yr, which a research launched on Wednesday projected would scale back the variety of automobiles coming into Manhattan by 15% to twenty%.
Town needs to cost a day by day variable toll for automobiles coming into or remaining throughout the central enterprise district, outlined as between sixtieth Road in midtown Manhattan and Battery Park on Manhattan’s southern tip.
New York, which has probably the most congested U.S. site visitors, would develop into the primary main U.S. metropolis to comply with London, which started an analogous cost in 2003.
New York lawmakers authorised the plan in 2019, and it was initially projected to start out in 2021. However the federal authorities beneath President Donald Trump didn’t take any motion.
The Federal Freeway Administration (FHWA), which should approve the transfer, mentioned on Wednesday it authorised the required environmental evaluation. The company will evaluate public feedback submitted by Sept. 9.
It didn’t give a timeline for its choice, however the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) mentioned the price might come into impact as much as 10 months after approval is granted. That interval could be for system design and implementation.
“Congestion pricing is nice for the surroundings, good for public transit and good for New York and the area,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber mentioned.
Passenger car drivers might pay $9 to $23 to enter at peak instances, whereas in a single day tolls may very well be as little as $5. Drivers might apply current bridge and tunnel tolls to congestion expenses.
The environmental evaluation launched Wednesday discovered the cost would reduce site visitors, enhance air high quality, make buses extra dependable and improve transit use by 1-2%. The toll would generate $1-$1.5 billion a yr and assist $15 billion in debt financing for mass transit enchancment.
Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group, endorsed the transfer and mentioned congestion pricing “can’t occur quickly sufficient.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Modifying by Cynthia Osterman)