New York’s Staten Island — Some portions of Manhattan will remain toll-free, even though congestion pricing aims to charge anyone driving into such districts.
Drivers entering Manhattan on or south of 60th Street will soon be subject to a fee. However, not every route in this region will charge a fee.
Some roadways, like as the West Side Highway and FDR Drive, will not have to pay tolls at all. Additionally, according to the MTA, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel and the roadways that link it to the FDR and West Side will also be excluded.
Additionally, there will be no fees for vehicles that begin in the toll zone and merely drive through it or the designated roads.
Before congestion pricing goes into effect this month, here are some additional things drivers should be aware of.
Has congestion pricing returned?
Indeed. Governor Kathy Hochul formally restored congestion pricing for New York City in the middle of November.
The governor explained her early resistance to the program during the press conference announcing this decision as a worry about the program’s high cost for working New Yorkers.
Congestion pricing: what is it?
Congestion pricing is the practice of charging cars to enter specific Congestion Relief Zones (CRZs) in Manhattan via electronic tolling in order to alleviate traffic and generate funds for improvements to public transportation.
The program’s proceeds will be used to finance approximately $15 billion in capital projects for the city’s deteriorating transit infrastructure.
The Congestion Relief Zone: What is it?
The Central District Business Tolling Program will be established by the MTA’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority as part of the $175 billion state budget that was passed on April 1, 2019.
Travelers who drive into Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone—which is any place south of 60th Street, excluding some local highways—will be charged a fee.
What time will this begin?
Hochul said the plan will officially begin at midnight on Sunday, January 5.
The program’s numerous cameras will then activate and start charging drivers a daily fee via the Tolls by Mail program or E-ZPass.
What will the price be?
The charge that drivers must pay to enter the CRZ varies according on the type of vehicle and the time of day.
Drivers with E-ZPass will pay the following during the day, which is defined as 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends:
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Passenger vehicles (once per day): $9
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Motorcycles (once per day): $4.50
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Small trucks and non-commuter buses: $14.40
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Large trucks and sightseeing buses: $21.60
In early January, drivers without E-ZPass should anticipate paying even more. If a driver chooses Tolls by Mail, motorbikes will pay $6.75 and passenger cars will pay $13.50.
The hours of the night
During overnight hours, which are Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and on weekends from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., toll charges will be reduced.
Hochul also stated that in order to promote more deliveries in the city at night, she intends to reduce tolls by 75% overnight.
As a result, motorbikes will pay $1.05 and passenger cars with E-ZPass will pay $2.25 to enter the CRZ overnight.
Credit crossing
Crossing credits against the toll will be provided to drivers who enter the CRZ through the Queens-Midtown, Hugh L. Carey, Holland, or Lincoln tunnels.
However, cars will now receive crossing credits that are 40% less than the initial plan because of the lowered toll.
Drivers entering the CRZ through the Holland and Lincoln tunnels will be credited $3, while those entering through the Brooklyn-Battery or Queens-Midtown tunnels would be credited $1.50.
Exclusions & Discounts
After their first ten monthly travels, drivers earning less than $50,000 annually will be eligible for a 50% discount on the regular toll for all crossings.
Emergency vehicles and those transporting individuals with disabilities will not be subject to the program, as previously mandated by state law. Residents who live in the CRZ and make less than $60,000 will be eligible for tax credits.
For those who are unable to use transit due to disability or medical issues, the MTA will also provide discounts.You may read more about discounts here.
Options for transportation
Hochul stated that increasing the frequency of trips for the outer boroughs is a top goal for the MTA, which will be expanding service to at least 23 bus lines.
Earlier this year, on the same day that the program originally began, four Staten Island express bus routes were chosen for additional service. The SIM1C, SIM4C, SIM23, and SIM24 are among them.
Additionally, the BM2 and BM5 lines in Brooklyn were chosen.
In order to reduce wait times and improve service reliability, two local bus routes—the S46/96 and S79 SBS—were also chosen to receive schedule adjustments in December.
The Outer Borough Transportation Account, established and fully funded by the transit authority to give $50 million annually to enhance transportation outside of Manhattan in anticipation of congestion pricing, will be used to finance these additional buses.
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