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6/29/2023
New York City's congestion pricing plan — the first such program in the nation — can advance now that it's received environmental approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week.
Under the plan, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will charge drivers a toll when entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. The toll is part of a strategy to reduce gridlock, decrease reliance on private cars and improve air quality in the city's commercial areas, according to the Manhattan borough website.
FHWA found that the congestion pricing plan would have no significant environmental impacts. The environmental assessment was prepared by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), New York State Department of Transportation and NYC DOT in consultation with FHWA.
The group found that the program is expected to meet its objectives while providing financial support for MTA’s capital projects to improve public transit, MTA officials said in a press release.
Before a tolling rate structure can be set, the Traffic Mobility Review Board will develop a recommendation based on factors such as traffic patterns, public impact, peak and off-peak rates and emissions trends. The TMRB will make its recommendation to the TBTA, which will set the rate structure.
If a structure is adopted on the current timeline, toll collection could begin as early as May 2024, MTA officials said. That would give contractors 310 days to finish designing, developing, testing and installing the toll system and equipment.
The congestion toll program would inject $15 billion into MTA’s 2020-2024 capital program, which calls for accessibility improvements and state-of-good-repair work.
“Manhattan has some of the lowest rates of car ownership in the country, but some of the worst traffic. Congestion pricing will help reduce the number of vehicles on city streets, while also providing the public transit system with funding it desperately needs,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.