NEW YORK — The reinstating congestion tolls in New York City will be discussed today at an MTA board meeting.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced last week it wants to launch congestion pricing in early January 2025but she wants to lower the toll to enter Manhattan under 60th Street from $15 to $9.
A joint MTA committee meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by a regular board meeting at 11 a.m. A livestream of the meeting will be available on the MTA’s website.
The public is invited to comment virtually or in person. Anyone who wishes to comment will be given the floor for a maximum of two minutes. To comment, you must register online or in person. Online registration for the committee meeting will take place from 8:25-8:55 a.m., and online registration for the board meeting will take place from 10:25-10:55 a.m.
Hochul aims to introduce congestion charges in January 2025
For the plan to take effect, the new pricing structure must pass an MTA vote. It will also have to go through a federal review process, and the cameras installed to scan E-ZPasses and license plates will have to be tested.
The MTA relies on congestion pricing to provide $15 billion in financing for signal modernization, improving accessibility, the extension of the Second Avenue subway lineand more projects.
Hochul said despite the cheaper tolls, the plan will still be able to raise those funds for the MTA.
“We still get $15 billion to fund the MTA, and drivers pay $6 less.” she said Thursday. “Some skeptics predicted that we would never find a path that would lower tolls while addressing congestion and critical transit funding that millions of New Yorkers rely on, but that is exactly what we did.”
Congestion pricing would start in Junebut Hochul put the brakes on the plan just a few weeks before the launch datesaying the city had not yet recovered economically from the COVID-19 pandemic and raising concerns about “unintended consequences for New Yorkers.”
The plan faced resistance from a series of criticsincluded elected officials in the Tri-state area and newly elected President Donald Trump, who has said he would abolish congestion pricing.
“Only in New York can the governor hit you with thousands of dollars in extra fees and somehow try to tell people she’s saving you money,” said Hempstead Supervisor Dan Clavin. who has filed a lawsuit against the MTA. “And now they will be forced to pay this fee.
“The fact is that this is a regressive tax that falls on commuters and forces them to pay extra money just to get to work,” Clavin added. “If they can, I would tell people to file their opposition. There is power in collective voices.’
Supporters say the toll plan will help reduce congestion in Manhattan below 60th Street, improve air quality and financing much-needed public transport projects.
