New York City Congestion Pricing to Begin June 30, MTA Confirms

The MTA has announced that congestion pricing will officially start on June 30th in New York City.

Here are the key points you need to know:

– Cars entering Manhattan at 61st Street and below will face an additional charge of $15, while trucks could be charged between $24 and $36, depending on their size. Most toll readers have already been installed to facilitate the process.

– However, there are some planned exemptions. Government vehicles, yellow school buses under contract with the Department of Education (DOE), and city-owned vehicles will be exempt. Additionally, some low-income New Yorkers can apply for reduced rates.

The MTA board overwhelmingly approved congestion pricing in December, stating that charging drivers to enter certain parts of Manhattan would generate millions of dollars to support the aging transit system. However, the move has drawn criticism from several quarters.

U.S. Representative Mike Lawler, a Republican representing Rockland, Putnam, and parts of Westchester, expressed concern over the financial burden congestion pricing would place on Hudson Valley families. Lawler criticized the MTA’s decision to offer discounted rates exclusively to residents of the five boroughs, calling it unfair to Hudson Valley families.

U.S. Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat representing Orange County and parts of Ulster and Dutchess counties, echoed Lawler’s sentiments. Ryan called for discounts to be extended to all MTA riders and urged the agency to commit to infrastructure upgrades in the Hudson Valley.

The move to implement congestion pricing aims to address the growing traffic congestion issues in Manhattan while providing much-needed funds for the city’s transit system. However, it has sparked a debate over fairness and financial burdens for commuters from surrounding areas.