The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officially announced on April 26 that the congestion pricing will be implemented starting from June 30 at midnight. However, this plan is facing multiple lawsuits, including one from the state of New Jersey, with a federal judge expected to make a ruling before mid-June.
This plan will charge vehicles entering the Central Business District south of 60th Street in Manhattan a base fee of $15, aimed at reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and generating $1 billion in annual revenue for MTA. As the congestion pricing goes into effect on the early morning of June 30, vehicles entering the charging zone will only need to pay a discounted overnight rate of $3.75 until 9 a.m. on that day.
The final fee structure for congestion pricing is roughly as follows:
(1) Passenger vehicles during peak hours (Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) will be charged $15, with an overnight rate of $3.75.
(2) Trucks and buses during peak hours will face fees ranging from $24 to $36, with evening rates of $6 to $8, depending on the size and intended use of the vehicle.
(3) Motorcycles will be charged $7.50 during peak hours and $1.75 at night. These vehicle types only need to pay once a day, and the rates will be higher for those not using E-ZPass.
(4) Taxis and rideshare vehicles like Uber and Lyft will be charged $1.25 and $2.50 per trip, respectively, without any overnight discounts.
(5) Vehicles with E-ZPass that have paid tolls at tunnels can receive a maximum discount of $5 for passenger vehicles, $2.50 for motorcycles, $12 for small trucks and rental buses, and $20 for large trucks and tour buses during peak hours. There are no discounts during overnight hours.
MTA is providing exemptions for emergency vehicles, government vehicles, buses, school buses, vehicles for disabled individuals, and offering discounts for low-income drivers. The MTA has launched a portal for “discounts and exemptions,” detailing which vehicles or drivers are eligible and providing application information at the website: https://tinyurl.com/ef8paj44
However, the congestion pricing plan is facing multiple lawsuits in federal courts in New York and New Jersey, with plaintiffs including the New Jersey state government, local governments, unions, and city residents requesting judges to suspend the implementation. Since MTA originally scheduled to start collecting congestion fees on June 15, Federal Judge Leo Gordon, who is presiding over the lawsuit filed by the New Jersey state government, stated earlier this month that he will make a decision by mid-June without providing a specific date, only saying “to the best of his ability.” Additionally, several lawsuits filed in Manhattan federal court are set to begin next month.