By Allison Dubrow
New York City received federal approval for congestion pricing on Jun. 27, enabling tolls that drivers must pay to enter the city, south of 96th street. Congestion pricing serves as an attempt to ease traffic and pollution in the city, as well as raise money for the MTA.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul stated in a press conference, “We are going to be the very first state in the nation, the very first city in America, to have a congestion pricing plan.” The program could go into effect as soon as spring 2024. Some cities in Europe, such as London, Stockholm, Rome, Malta, and Milan, have already implemented congestion pricing. The exact price of the toll in NYC has not been decided yet.
U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres supports the congestion pricing program and thinks it will be beneficial for NY. “From the moment I entered public office a decade ago, I have championed congestion pricing in the hopes of curbing congestion, improving air quality, reducing asthma rates, and stabilizing the MTA – the lifeblood of America’s largest city,” Torres said in a statement he released on May 6.
Many supporters of congestion pricing see this as a way to help in the fight against climate change. The new tolls are expected to produce another $1 billion for the city yearly, which would be used to enhance the MTA system. The overall goal of the increase in tolls is to try and steer people away from driving into the city and instead rely on public transportation. However, some people do not have this option, such as New Jersey residents.
“We are outraged at the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) decision to move forward with the Finding of No Significant Impact for New York’s and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Congestion Tax proposal without conducting a full and comprehensive review of the environmental impacts in New Jersey or the financial impact on low-income communities and commuters,” said U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Senator Bob Menendez, and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. in a joint statement. “This is nothing more than a cash grab to fund the MTA.”
Some experts have said that congestion pricing will not affect low-income communities, as they are the ones already using public transportation. Taxi and other car service drivers, on the other hand, are opposed to the plan as they believe some fares will be too costly. However, the MTA stated that for-hire vehicles (FHVs) and taxis will not be tolled more than once per day.