New York congestion charge on track for 2023

New York City’s long-awaited congestion charge is back on track following a review of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) draft environmental assessment, the agency’s chair, Janno Lieber, said at a board meeting last week.

In March 2022, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) responded to the MTA’s environmental assessment with a list of more than 400 questions, which led to a delay in the process.

“We have been able to address virtually all of the questions and data requests thrown at us by our federal partners,” Lieber told board members.

What’s the plan?

The congestion charge, officially known as the New York Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP) would see passenger vehicles charged a set fee when entering Manhattan below 61st Street.

Authorised emergency vehicles and vehicles transporting people with disabilities would be exempt.

While the exact amount of the fee has yet to be determined, the MTA’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer Allison de Cerreño has said it could range from US$9 to US$23 for E-ZPass users, and from US$14 to US$35 for Tolls-by-Mail users during peak hours.

The fee during off-peak and overnight hours may be lower, and trucks and other vehicle types would likely have a different fee structure in place.

Public consultation

Since autumn 2021, the MTA has conducted ten regional public meetings and nine meetings with environmental justice communities in preparation for the introduction of the charge.

Once the FHWA  formally completes its review of the environmental assessment, the plan will then undergo a public review, Lieber added, with the expectation that the scheme will start in late 2023.

The policy was approved by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over three years ago, but has been beset by delays.

It is estimated the CBDTP could generate US$1 billion a year, and allow the MTA to unlock $15 billion in debt financing.

It would be the first congestion pricing programme in the United States, and the charge will fund the MTA’s US$51 billion 2020-2024 capital budget plan, which aims to rejuvenate the city’s ageing public transport network.

Image: Tim Klapdor (Flickr)