NEW YORK — With New York City’s toll plan will start in less than two weeksthe MTA now says it has the right to raise prices even further on days when there is a gridlock.
However, Gov. Kathy Hochul says she won’t let that happen.
“Under no circumstances”
The highly controversial toll initiative will launch on Sunday, January 5 and will see tolls that charge drivers $9 to drive under 60th Street in Manhattan have already been set up in the borough’s congestion zones.
But on busier traffic days, prices can be even higher.
On the very last page of the New York State Register’s latest rulebook, a footnote emphasizes that the MTA “reserves the right to charge a 25% higher Central Business District – or CBD – fee during gridlock alert days .” Examples of when that might happen include if the president is in town or if it is a particularly busy travel day.
But in response, Hochul said, “We talked to the MTA and made it clear [that] under no circumstances will I allow this 25% discretionary surcharge to be used on gridlock days.”
The MTA confirmed in a statement that it does have the authority to use the additional 25%, but that it is the city’s Department of Transportation that determines which day is a gridlock day.
New Yorkers and out-of-towners struggle with what’s fair
Vanessa Fine, who was in New York City on Thursday, said congestion pricing is the reason she’s glad she moved to Los Angeles.
“My parents have lived in the same apartment for 40 years. The fact that they even have to pay to move out of their garage is kind of sick,” Fine said.
Chelsea resident Clint Hild said he sees it as a double-edged sword, given the toll’s potential benefits to the city’s infrastructure. During peak hours, passenger car tolls on a traffic jam warning day could increase to $11.25 if the 25% increase takes effect.
“It would just make urban transportation much more expensive at street level, but public transportation needs a dramatic overhaul,” Hild said.
Elbia Retchkiman said she comes from Baltimore to visit family and would pay an extra 25% if it meant less traffic.
“It will be more expensive, but traffic will be calmer,” Retchkiman said.
Svetlana Moleva of the Upper West Side said if there is an additional fee on gridlock warning day, the city should meet the public somewhere in the middle.
“It’s hard to say. I would start with, say, 10%. Maybe that would be a better solution for everyone,” Moleva said.
Others said they have simply resigned themselves to the fact that congestion pricing is a law in New York City.
“If we have to pay it, we have to pay it,” said driver Mario Barrios.
