New York has received decisive federal approval for its plan, the first in the country, to charge tolls for entering the most visited areas of Manhattan, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday.
“Congestion tolls will reduce traffic in our congested downtown area, improve air quality and provide critical resources to the MTA,” Hochul said.
“I am proud of the thorough environmental review process we undertook, including responding to thousands of comments from community members across the region. With the green light from the federal government, we look forward to moving forward with the implementation of this program.” added the governor.
“NEW: New York City is leading the nation by becoming the first city in the United States with a congestion pricing program, setting the standard in the fight for cleaner air, better transit and less traffic.
“As we usually do here in New York, today we are making history,” the governor also wrote in a message on social networks.
NEW: New York City is leading the nation by becoming the first city in America with a congestion pricing program — setting the standard in the fight for cleaner air, better transit, and less traffic.
As we so often do here in New York, today, we’re making history.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 27, 2023
The program could start in the spring of 2024, bringing New York in line with places like London, Singapore and Stockholm, which have launched similar tolling programs for heavily congested business districts.
In one of several toll scenarios being studied, drivers could have to pay as much as $23 a day to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the long-stalled plan, He has not yet decided the exact amount.
The congestion pricing plan cleared its last federal hurdle after receiving the go-ahead from the Federal Highway Administration.
“With the green light from the federal government, we hope to go ahead with the implementation of this program,” Hochul said.
People heading to Manhattan already pay large tolls to use many of the bridges and tunnels that connect the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers. The special tolls for the southern half of Manhattan would be added to those already in place.
The new tolls are expected to generate another $1 billion a year, which would be used to finance loans to improve the MTA-run subway, bus and commuter rail systems.
The state Legislature approved a conceptual plan for congestion pricing in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic combined with a lack of guidance from federal regulators stalled the project.
The plan has met with strong opposition from authorities in New Jersey, where people heading to Manhattan by car could see travel costs skyrocket.
Taxi drivers and car drivers have also opposed it, claiming fares would become unaffordable. Some MTA proposals have included limits on tolls for taxis and other for-hire vehicles.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the Federal Highway Administration has completed the environmental review of the nation’s leading state congestion pricing program, the Manhattan Central Business District Toll, following a 30-day public availability period from the final environmental evaluation.
The federal agency today issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, confirming the conclusion of the Final Environmental Assessment, which includes the mitigation measures to be carried out by the program, that the program will not have significant environmental impacts.
2023-06-27 19:31:00
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