The rollout of New York’s controversial congestion pricing plan, which will see drivers charged a $15 toll to enter Midtown Manhattan, is fast approaching.
The congestion toll is slated to kick off in mid-June after facing years of delays and a slew of lawsuits.
The MTA argues the additional toll, which aims to curb peak-day congestion on busy Manhattan streets, will reap $1 billion per year that would, in turn, fund major upgrades to subway, commuter railroads and bus systems.
But critics of the contentious plan said it’s just a cash grab that’ll saddle Big Apple drivers with yet another fee — and that it could just end up diverting traffic and pollution to outer boroughs.
Here’s what you need to know about the nation’s first congestion pricing fee system:
What is the congestion pricing toll and when does it go into effect?
Congestion pricing means drivers will be charged a fee for entering a certain zone in Manhattan.
While no official start date has been set for when drivers will start paying the toll, an MTA lawyer revealed during a February court hearing that the rollout could begin as early as mid-June.
Where is the toll zone?
Manhattan’s central business district below 60th Street — or south of Central Park.
Major highways, including the FDR Drive, the West Side Highway and the Battery Park underpass are exempt — but drivers will be tolled if they exit onto a street within the congestion zone.
For instance, a motorist who exits the Brooklyn Bridge onto the FDR drive won’t have to pay the toll, but will need to shell out if they exit the bridge onto Centre Street.
How much will drivers be charged?
Here’s the breakdown for what each vehicle will be charged — barring last-minute changes — for the once-a-day toll:
- Passenger vehicles: $15
- Small trucks: $24
- Large trucks: $36
- Motorcycles: $7.50
- Taxi drivers: $1.25 per ride
- Uber, Lyft, other ride-shares: $2.50 per ride
The rush-hour rates will be in place from 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays.
On weekends, the full rate will be charged between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Outside those peak hours, the toll will be about 75% less — or about $3.75 for a car.
How do you pay the toll?
Drivers will be hit with the toll via their E-ZPass tags — just like on other roads, bridges and tunnels.
For those who don’t have an E-ZPass, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a bill via mail.
Are there any exemptions to the toll?
Authorized emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire trucks, are exempt from the toll. Government vehicles involved in public works — such as garbage trucks and pothole repair trucks — are also exempt.
Transit and commuter buses (not including intercity buses), as well as qualifying vehicles transporting people with a disability, won’t have to pay the congestion toll.
The looming toll has sparked a backlash among the city’s workforce — including from first responders and educators, who argue they should be granted exemptions given they are assigned to stations and schools in the zone and drive to work.
What is the MTA’s explanation for charging commuters?
Transit officials argue it will unclog some of Manhattan’s busiest streets, reduce pollution and ultimately improve public transportation infrastructure.
The plan will raise $1 billion per year, which would be used to fund $15 billion in bonds to pay for major upgrades to the subway, commuter railroads and bus systems, the MTA says.
Here’s a list of some of the Big Apple-based projects for which the MTA would use the cash pool. This list was assembled from the agency’s filings with federal regulators and information distributed to its board this week:
Second Avenue Subway extension ($3 billion):
- A three-station extension from the current terminal at 96th-2Av to 125th-Lex.
New computerized signals ($3 billion):
- Brooklyn’s Fulton Street subway (A/C-lines) from High St. to Euclid Ave.
- Manhattan’s 6th Avenue subway (B/D/F/M-lines) from Broadway-Lafayette to 47-50 Rockefeller Center.
A slew of station renovations and rehabs across all five boroughs, including elevators and ramps for the disabled ($2 billion):
The Bronx:
- 167th St. (B/D)
- Kingsbridge (4)
- Wakefield -241st St. (2)
- 3 Ave-138th St. (6)
- Brook Ave. (6)
Brooklyn:
- Hoyt-Schemerhorn (A/C/G)
- Nostrand Ave. (A/C)
- Jefferson St. (L)
- 18th Ave. (D)
- Neptune Ave. (F)
Manhattan
- 42nd St.-Bryant Park (B/D/F/M)
- 7th Ave. (B/D/E)
- 59th St.-Lexington Ave. (4/5/6; N/R/W)
- 110th St. (6)
- 145th St. (A/C/B/D)
Queens:
- Briarwood (E/F)
- Parsons Blvd (F)
Staten Island
- Clifton (SIR)
New subways and buses ($2 billion):
- $1 billion for electric buses and related depot upgrades
- $1 billion to finance the purchase of up to 437 additional new subway cars for the letter lines — enough for 43 new trains