As congestion pricing supporters celebrated a victory years in the making, opponents had a message: “This is far from over.”
NEW YORK CITY — Congestion pricing in Manhattan may have passed its final MTA greenlight, but opponents vowed to put up roadblocks before motorists face tolls as soon as June.
“This is far from over and we will continue to fight this blatant cash grab,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
Murphy’s statement, released soon after MTA board members Wednesday approved the final congestion pricing structure, echoed a chorus of toll foes who see the courts as the final stop in the battle.
No less than five lawsuits in New York and New Jersey aim to scuttle congestion pricing.
“This isn’t just a policy failure; it’s an act of war on the working class,” tweeted Queens Council Member Bob Holden, a congestion pricing critic.
But Janno Lieber, the MTA’s chair and CEO, threw cold water over the prospect of a legal challenge successfully delaying or scrapping congestion pricing.
“The court process has been scheduled to be resolved before we’re going to start congestion pricing,” he said. “We’re very confident about the outcome.
“But, actually, we don’t need to engage in hypotheticals: there’s actually a schedule that’s going to yield an answer in due time.”
Assuming no court surprises, here’s what New Yorkers and motorists need to know about congestion pricing.
A long-awaited, historic vote
MTA board members voted 11-1 Wednesday to approve a congestion pricing structure that includes a $15 toll for most vehicles to enter Manhattan at 60th Street and below.
New York City will be the first city in the nation to enact a congestion pricing program, which have successfully been run in London and Stockholm.
The vote came at the end of years-long fight by MTA officials — including a bureaucratic standstill imposed by former Donald Trump’s administration — and fulfilled an even-longer-awaited wish by advocates.
Congestion pricing is anticipated to raise $1 billion a year to pay for major projects for subways, buses and commuter trains, officials said. It also comes with other benefits, supporters contend.
“I fully support taking action to unclog city streets, to increase pedestrian safety, to reduce traffic violence, to improve our health and air that we breathe, and to make our city less car dependent,” said MTA board member Blanca López, before she cast her supportive vote.
How it’ll work, who will pay
Most drivers entering Manhattan at 60th Street or below will face a base toll of $15.
“Toll rates will vary by type of vehicle and time of day,” the MTA’s new congestion pricing website states. “Passenger vehicles and motorcycles will only be charged once per day.”
Those tolls will be tallied by toll readers that have already been installed on Manhattan streets enclosing what the MTA calls the Congestion Relief Zone, aside from the FDR Drive and West Side Highway.
The $15 base toll will apply from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends. Nighttime toll rates will be $3.75.
“Trucks and buses will pay a toll of $24 or $36 during the day, depending on their size and function, and $6 or $9 at night,” the MTA’s congestion pricing site states.
“The toll for motorcycles is proposed to be $7.50 during the day and $1.75 at night.”
Only a few types of vehicles will be exempted: emergency vehicles, those that carry people with disabilities, school buses, commuter buses and certain government vehicles.
New Yorkers and motorists can find out more about the pricing structure here.
