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N.Y. Congestion Pricing Plan Moves a

Step Closer to Reality
The Federal Highway Administration said on Friday that the toll
program, which would charge drivers entering Manhattan, could
advance to its next steps before final approval.
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By Ana Ley

Published May 5, 2023 Updated May 6, 2023, 3:55 a.m. ET

The News
Congestion pricing in New York City, a plan to charge drivers a toll
to enter the busy commercial districts of Lower Manhattan,
cleared a significant hurdle on Friday, bringing the program one
step closer to reality.

The Federal Highway Administration on Friday tentatively

approved an updated draft of a report commissioned by the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority that identified ways to
mitigate the potential harm of congesting pricing on disadvantaged
communities. This initial approval opens the draft to a 30-day
public review and is a crucial bar for the M.T.A. to clear before it
finally hammers out recommendations for toll rates, including any
discounts, exemptions and other allowances.

After the review period, the Federal Highway Administration will

give its final approval. Based on that time frame, the M.T.A. says
the tolling program could begin as soon as spring 2024.

New York City’s congestion pricing plan cleared a federal hurdle on Friday, allowing it
to move to public review before a final approval. Sean Sirota for The New York Times

Why It Matters
Advocates, urban planners and public officials in New York have
long pushed for congestion pricing as a way to reduce traffic,
combat pollution and provide new funds for public transit.

The tolling program, which would be the first in the country, would
charge drivers a fee to enter Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods,
which officials hope will discourage many from jamming up the
borough’s streets. These funds would help pay for the M.T.A.’s
infrastructure upgrades, like building subway platform barriers or
more elevators.

“The time has arrived for congestion pricing,” Janno Lieber, the
authority’s chairman, told reporters Friday afternoon. “New York
is the No. 1 most congested place in the United States. Ambulances
can’t get to hospitals. Fire trucks can’t get to fires. We have to do
something.”

Transportation in New York City Editors’ Picks

Congestion Pricing: The Federal Highway Administration tentatively 3 Quick Breakfast

approved a plan to charge drivers a toll to enter the busy commercial Waffles That Meet
You Where You Are
districts of Lower Manhattan, bringing the program one step closer to
reality. Mother’s Day Gift
Guide: Whimsical
Day-Fine Program: A bill recently introduced in the City Council would Martini Glasses,
require City Hall to come up with a pilot program to charge wealthy New Scented Ceramics
and More
Yorkers more than their lower-income neighbors for civil violations like
building that driveway. Link Between Long
Telomeres and
State Budget: Under New York’s new budget deal, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Long Life Is a Tall
Tale, Study Finds
state lawmakers agreed to give the M.T.A. the money it needed to help
stave off a major deficit.
Real-Time Updates: The M.T.A. said it would no longer provide service
information on Twitter because the “reliability of the platform can no
longer be guaranteed.”

Many experts say that the plan would make getting around New
York more equitable, helping those with less by levying a
convenience fee on those who, at least in theory, can afford it.

Background
New York lawmakers approved congestion pricing in 2019, with a
launch planned for 2021. But the timeline stalled after Gov. Andrew
M. Cuomo resigned in the face of a sexual harassment scandal .

The M.T.A. hasn’t set a fee scale yet, but an initial report that it
released in August showed that one proposal under review would
charge $23 for a rush-hour trip into Midtown and $17 during off-
hours for E-ZPass holders.

Not everyone will pay. Vehicles carrying people with disabilities

and authorized emergency vehicles would be exempt from the
tolls . People whose primary residence is inside the district and
whose annual income is less than $60,000 would be eligible for a
state tax credit equal to the amount of their tolls.

Who Opposes It

The tolling program’s loudest critics include suburbanites who

worry that it could place an unfair burden on people who travel to
Manhattan for work.

“For folks who are struggling to make ends meet, this is a

devastating blow,” said Representative Josh Gottheimer, a
Democrat who represents northern New Jersey, including Bergen
County, where many residents cross the George Washington
Bridge on their commute to the city. “Every single nickel that the
M.T.A. will literally pilfer out of the pockets of Jersey families will
go to the M.T.A.”

Other critics include taxi drivers, as well as Lyft and Uber drivers.
The M.T.A.’s own research has shown that fare increases triggered
by the tolls could slash demand for taxis and for-hire rides by up to
17 percent, frustrating drivers who say they are already struggling
to get by.

Manhattan residents who live north of the tolling zone have said
they fear that motorists, to skirt the new charge, will cluster in
their neighborhoods. In the Bronx, some residents are concerned
that the tolls could push more trucks onto the Cross Bronx
Expressway , a traffic-choked artery that is blamed for causing
some of the worst asthma rates in the state.

To the disappointment of those who oppose the plan altogether ,

protests will most likely not stop transportation officials from

moving ahead, though officials have made tweaks to ease
concerns .

What’s Next
Opponents have threatened legal action if the plan continues to
advance.

Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey on Friday issued a statement

calling the Federal Highway Administration’s decision “unfair and
ill-advised,” adding that he is “closely assessing all legal options.”

Tracey Tully contributed reporting.

A correction was made on May 6, 2023 An earlier version of this :

article misstated the number of drivers who enter the section of

Manhattan that would be covered by congestion pricing. About 7.7
million people enter the area each weekday, not 7.7 million drivers;
most arrive via public transit.

When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please let
us know at nytnews@nytimes.com . Learn more

Ana Ley is a Metro reporter covering transit in New York. Before joining The Times, she
worked at newspapers in Texas, Las Vegas and Virginia. @ La__Ley

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