A coalition of transit and climate activists, Congestion Pricing Now, was joined by MTA leadership and Gov. Hochul to call for the MTA board to adopt the Traffic Mobility Review Board’s (TMRB) proposed tolling plan.

But there’s still some issues: two lawsuits and now objections to some tolls from the ranks of city government. But Chair and CEO Janno Lieber says the time is now.

“For god’s sake, today is a gridlock alert day, and eight out of the next 10 days are gridlock alert days,” Lieber said. “Does anyone want to do something finally?”

What You Need To Know

  • Transit and environmental advocates demand the MTA board adopt the plan as is

  • Mayor Eric Adams has concerns, wants carve-outs for yellow taxis and school buses

  • The vote Wednesday kicks off a four-month process that includes a public comment period

There are those however who worry this won’t end congestion. Even the TMRB estimates it will cause a 17% reduction in cars below 60th Street. Gov. Hochul touted all the things that could be done with the $1 billion a year expected to come in.

“What about the idea of the Interborough Express being funded with this money, work in queens and get to your job in Brooklyn or vice versa, we can get that done,” Hochul said. “What about ending the transit desert in East Harlem and finishing the 2nd Avenue subway?”

And now concern within the city government about the toll plan as is.

“We’re really focusing on our two yellows,” Mayor Eric Adams said at his weekly press conference. “School buses and taxis.”

Adams says school busses should be treated differently and yellow cabs should be granted full exemptions.

“This is a fleet that has had a history of serving Manhattan for decades and has gone through financial distress,” Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations, said. “And we’ve all sadly witnessed the tragic results of that and the suicides that resulted from that.”

That distress caused by competition from Uber and Lyft making medallions less valuable. The TMRB suggests charging passengers in app-based cars like Uber and Lyft $2.50 a ride and yellow cab passengers $1.25. Lieber says the city has been a partner in the process.

”We’re happy to listen. But at this stage we’re pretty far along,” said Lieber. “The mayor did have a representative on the board. The board has now come out with its recommendations and we’re going to be acting on them tomorrow.”

It should be an interesting MTA board meeting on Wednesday. The mayor has four appointees, and whether they’ll vote to accept the recommendations now could be in question. But this vote is just the beginning. It kicks off a four-month process that also includes a public comment period, and there could be changes between now and when it’s implemented in the spring.