MTA’S FARE PLAY
Congest fee up to $23
Drivers could face $9 to $23 in fees to drive into parts of Manhattan as soon as late 2023, according to the MTA’s congestion pricing plan that is set to be unveiled Wednesday.
The amounts and timeline were detailed in a 34-page summary of the project’s much-delayed environmental review, which was provided to reporters by the cash-strapped agency on Tuesday.
“The tremendous detail included in this assessment makes clear the widespread benefits that would result from central business district tolling,” said MTA chief Janno Lieber in a statement. “Bottom line: this is good for the environment, good for public transit and good for New York and the region.”
The summary reveals the MTA is considering a tiered plan that would charge drivers the most to enter the tolling district — south of 60th Street in Manhattan — during peak daytime hours, while providing discounts to those who drive in during evening or overnight hours.
The MTA outlined a slew of options that its toll board will consider, including:
■ $9 fee during peak time — typically defined as 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. — which commuters would pay once per day when they exit the West Side Highway or FDR into Midtown or lower Manhattan. There would be no discounts for commuters who pay tolls on tunnels or bridges into Manhattan.
■ $23 fee during peak time, which would be paid by all drivers. But New Jersey and outer-borough commuters would be allowed to subtract the tunnel tolls they pay to cross into Manhattan from that congestion fee. The MTA would also exempt cabs from the congestion fee under that proposal.
MTA officials said Tuesday the proposed discount plan would cover 100% of the cost of the East River tolls, 100% of the off-peak toll for Port Authority crossings and between 90% to 95% of the peak hour Port Authority toll.
For example, a driver coming from New Jersey traveling through the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan would be able to credit almost all of their $13.75 peak tunnel toll against the congestion charge — meaning they would pay an estimated $10 to continue on into Midtown.
Jersey discount
New Jersey politicians, including Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, campaigned hard for the discount.
The entire $23 congestion fee would have to be paid by drivers who cross the East River using the free Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg and Queensboro bridges or those who drive down from north of 59th Street. Effectively, officials said, the higher congestion charge is necessary to offset the revenues lost by providing the toll rebate.
Drivers would only be charged once per day to enter the zone and New Yorkers who live south of 60th Street will be able to claim the toll costs on their state income taxes if they make less than $60,000 per year.