A New York City council plan to impose congestion pricing in the South Central business district below 60th Street is beginning to outline its next steps. The project was approved by the state legislature in 2019, but was shelved until the end of June, when the Federal Highway Administration gave its final approval.
Congestion charging is now expected to start next spring in New York City, five years after the initial plan was approved in Albany and 26 years after Singapore launched the world’s first congestion charging system.
It is estimated that, of the more than 20 million people who live in the tri-state area, more than 1.3 million drive to Lower Manhattan in some 700,000 cars, taxis and trucks.
The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority has named the plan the Central Business District Toll Program (CBDTP).Credit: Venturelli Luca | Shutterstock
Congestion charges in NY: the definition of costs and rules advances
The New York City council’s plan to impose congestion pricing that was passed by the state legislature in 2019 was given the green light by the Federal Highway Administration last month.
The scheme affects the South Central business district below 60th Street and will likely go live next spring.
Central Business District residents making less than $60,000 a year would receive a tax credit for tolls paid, and low-income frequent drivers entering the area, presumably many from New Jersey, would be eligible for a discount.
Specifically, the FHWA’s final approval makes a Finding of No Significant Impact determination and says that project sponsors can move forward with their application to the federal agency for a Pricing Pilot Program.
According to information published in The Daily News, after being approved by the New York state legislature, the bill was “acted on slowly by federal officials during the Trump administration.” The Biden administration has since put it back on track, but there remains strong opposition from tax hawks in Albany and New Jersey from hardliners who say it will hit their constituents the hardest.
You can read: Driver’s license in New York for undocumented immigrants: how to process it
What is the congestion pricing plan in NY
According to the Daily News, drivers using 60th Street or below will be charged between $9 and $23, although the exact amount is not yet defined.
Various reports maintain that the MTA has considered several different scenarios, with prices from $9 to $23 per ride, reduced to $7-17 for off-peak hours and $5-12 for an overnight charge. The 2019 state legislature law allows only one charge per vehicle per day, so it might be a good idea to take advantage of the city that never sleeps.
Three highways running below 60 will be exempt; FDR Drive, West Side Highway, and sections of the Battery Park underpass and the Hugh Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel connecting FDR Drive to West Side Highway.
The company TransCore has been contracted to build the equipment necessary to charge drivers. It is not yet known whether the system will rely on transponders inside the vehicles or simply read license plates.
It may interest you:
Driver’s license in New York: how to get it step by step
DMV NY: how to reserve a date for your driving test in New York
Driving license in NY: requirements and how to obtain it step by step
How to Apply for TLC Yellow Cabs Driver’s License in New York
The NY Senate approves the homologation of the Dominican driver’s license
2023-07-23 15:05:21
#drivers #pay #enter #areas #city #Siempre #Auto
