Manhattan’s controversial congestion toll in downtown NYC passes the latest federal hurdle with drivers facing a potential $17 to $23 fee from 2024 to commute in packed stretches
- The Federal Highway Administration on Monday approved New York’s plan for congestion charging in Manhattan — a first for the United States
- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority can now decide on final tolls, discounts, hours and waivers: A report last year suggested up to $23 per car
- The plan is expected to generate $1 billion per year for public transportation
A first in the nation for congestion charging for New York City received final federal approval Monday, meaning starting next year anyone who wants to drive in Lower Manhattan can pay up to $23.
The Federal Highway Administration officially gave the green light to the plan on Monday, meaning it’s now up to New York’s transit officials — the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — to make a final decision on tolls, discounts, hours and waivers.
A plan published in August suggested that vehicles would have to pay $23 to enter the area south of 60th Street during peak daytime traffic.
The off-peak rate would be $17.
All areas south of Central Park have a flat entry fee of up to $23 for all drivers
The potential congestion charges are expected to bring in $1 billion a year for MTA, which operates the city’s public transit system
The scheme, first proposed in 2007 but launched in earnest in 2019, will start in spring 2024 and is expected to raise $1 billion for the MTA to spend on public transportation.
“Congestion pricing will reduce traffic in our busy downtown area, improve air quality and provide the MTA with critical resources,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.
“With the green light from the federal government, we look forward to moving forward with the implementation of this program.”
Last month tThe Biden administration approved the release of the final environmental assessment.
The toll would be applied to congestion charges on top of existing bridge and tunnel tolls, i.e. the cost of a round-trip car ride from areas such as Princeton, New Jerseycan go up to $120.
Activists calling for the introduction of the congestion charge can be seen on April 21
In March 2018 there is a rally in support of congestion charging
New York said drivers could face traffic congestion costing up to $23 a day by mid-2024
Mayor Eric Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander applauded the announcement
A study published last year predicted that the fee would reduce the number of cars entering Manhattan by 15 to 20 percent.
Other major global cities such as Singapore and London already have congestion pricing policies in place to minimize traffic, speed up essential services and reduce pollution.
In New York, the city wants to levy a daily variable toll for vehicles entering or staying in the central business district, defined as between 60th Street in midtown Manhattan and Battery Park on Manhattan’s southern tip.
New York, with the most traffic congestion in the US, would become the first major US city to follow London, which began a similar tax in 2003.
MTA officials have said they will need nearly a year to set up the new toll infrastructure once approved by the federal government, putting it on track to meet the current target of launching congestion charging in the second quarter of 2024 .