The city’s congestion pricing plan moves another step forward in the approval process by the federal government.
The Federal Highway Administration has signed off on the MTA’s environmental assessment of the plan.
This confirmation of the “letter of legal sufficiency” triggers a final public review process that’s expected to lead to final federal approval.
What You Need To Know
- The Federal Highway Administration has given the green light to New York's congestion pricing plan, allowing it to move forward. Mayor Eric Adams praised the announcement while commuters say they can't afford it
- The congestion pricing plan is expected to take effect in late 2024 and aims to finance $15 billion of the MTA’s capital plan, as well as reduce traffic and fund improvements to the public transit system
- Though the expected fees are not yet clear, vehicles in the Lower Manhattan congestion zone will pay an electronically collected toll. Commuters told NY1 they already spend too much
The congestion pricing plan is expected to take effect in late 2024 and aims to finance $15 billion of the MTA’s capital plan, as well as reduce traffic and fund improvements in the public transit system.
Mayor Eric Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander applauded the announcement.
Adams emphasized on Twitter the importance of investing in the transit system and cleaning up the air in communities.
The federal government has given congestion pricing another green light, and we're ready to get it done right.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 5, 2023
This is about more than reducing traffic. We'll invest in our transit system and clean up the air in the most polluted communities.
We won't leave them behind. https://t.co/OUCr50tUik
Meanwhile, many Midtown commuters told NY1 they were against the plan.
“It’s insane! What are they crazy? We already have enough high fees,” Daniel Chulpayuv, said while headed to the Midtown tunnel.
Though the expected fees are not yet clear, vehicles in the Lower Manhattan congestion zone will pay an electronically collected toll.
Commuters like Chulpayuv said they already spend too much.
“Eight dollars for the toll in and in the way back parking in the city you’re spending 20, 30 dollars a day just to drive your car,” said Chulpayuv.
“I don’t know why we have to pay more with the same salary increase over here, the salary here,” said Jose Molina, another commuter. “I work in New Jersey and I travel to queens and I pay already.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also expressed concern in statement about what he calls the disproportionate negative impacts of congestion pricing on New Jersey commuters.
On the other hand, some commuters say everyone is bound to feel the pinch even if they don’t drive.
“All you gonna do is it’s going to come back to the consumer [because] you’re going to nail the truck drivers and delivery so everything’s going to increase,” said Rita P.