New York’s plan to introduce a toll on driving in midtown Manhattan to fight traffic congestion has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration, making it the first program of its sort in the United States.
South of 60th Street in Manhattan, drivers could spend as much as $23 to get through the city. The toll might be implemented as early as 2024, however the exact cost and timing have not yet been determined.
The Traffic Mobility Review Board is responsible for determining the details of the toll system, such as the toll rates, credit policies, and toll exemptions. Once that is determined and approved by the MTA, the plan will move on to the Federal Highway Administration for final approval.
The MTA anticipates an additional $1 billion in annual revenue from the new tolls, which will be used to fund borrowing for the purpose of upgrading the subway, bus, and commuter rail networks it operates. Many of the bridges and tunnels into Manhattan from the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers currently charge steep fees to drivers entering the city.
The tweet below verifie the news:
Congestion tolls are coming to NYC
Starting in 2024, drivers entering Midtown Manhattan might have to pay as much as $23 to enter the area.
The plan is projected to raise $1 billion for the MTA, while cutting traffic by ~20%. pic.twitter.com/ZHbTdTtDpZ
— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) June 27, 2023
The additional tolls for Manhattan’s southern half would be collected in addition to the standard ones. ongestion pricing has been approved in principle by the New York state legislature for 2019, but its implementation has been delayed due to COVID-19 and a lack of federal guidance.
The environmental impact statement claims that between 2010 and 2019, average speeds in Manhattan’s central business area dropped by 22%, to around 7 mph, causing vehicles to lose almost 102 hours of commuting time annually. Travel times on local buses have slowed by 28%.
Commuters from New Jersey to Manhattan would be subject to daily tolls, and this has raised concerns among New Jersey officials. Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey in the House of Representatives and Governor Phil Murphy have both written letters to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requesting that the MTA be mandated to do a thorough environmental impact study.
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Governor Phil Murphy said his office was looking into potential legal action. “While we are not necessarily opposed to a carefully crafted congestion pricing proposal, we are deeply disappointed by the FHWA’s limited review and skeptical of the motives of a financially ailing agency that has failed to meaningfully engage with our Administration on this issue,” Bailey Lawrence, a Murphy spokesman, said in a statement.
The MTA’s head, Janno Lieber, has stated that New Jersey is being considered in the agency’s efforts to finalize the congestion pricing scheme. Lieber told CBS’s Marcia Kramer on June 11 that the state does not get approval from the federal government before raising tolls on the Garden State Parkway or the Jersey Turnpike.
High-traffic commercial districts in cities like London, Singapore, and Stockholm all have their own tolling systems. According to the Washington Post, congestion in London decreased by 30% and pollution by approximately 25% in the year following the implementation of congestion charging.
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