Gov. Kathy Hochul's reinstatement of congestion fees gave the MTA the green light on Monday, paving the way for a $15 toll on Manhattan drivers by 2031.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board approved the governor's tiered congestion pricing plan by a 12-1 vote.
The benefits of congestion pricing are “huge for the MTA,” said Jano Lieber, the agency's chairman. He argued that motorists, transit users and businesses would benefit from programs to reduce traffic in Manhattan.
“This is a hopeful moment, not just for drivers, but for transit users and everyone, because if you have to drive to New York, if you choose to drive to New York; “Life can and should be better if you spend less money and spend more time in crowds,” he said. “If you can save 10, 20, or even 30 minutes, time is money.”
The procedural vote drew much commotion compared to the public outrage both for and against the long-awaited plan to impose a toll on cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street, scheduled to take effect on January 5. It was done without any problems.
Hochul announced last week that he would lift a “pause” on the program enacted over the summer, days before the fee was scheduled to begin, and implement a $9 fee instead of the original $15 fee.
But mainly hidden in Hochul's sales pitch was the fact that the lower fee would be phased up to the $15 rate approved by the MTA last year.
The phase-in plan proposed by Hochul and approved by board members on Monday calls for the fee to increase to $12 in 2028 and the full amount to $15 in 2031.
Many opponents see congestion pricing as a tax on hard-working commuters and New Yorkers who drive.
Lieber said 143,000 people drive into congestion toll zones every day, compared to 6.5 million people who use transit.
He argued that tolling would help improve subways and commuter trains and would likely attract drivers who would consider using the rail system again.
“Don't believe the hype when people want to describe this as some kind of dystopian hellscape,” he said. “New York's public transit system is much safer than many other places in the state where people make a fuss about congestion charges and about New York. Look at the crime rates in their major cities. Sho.”
