The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City has announced that the congestion pricing program for south Manhattan will go into effect on June 30th. The pricing program will affect Midtown and Lower Manhattan (everything south of 60th Street), charging passenger cars $15 per day and trucks $24 or $36 depending on size. Taxi fares will increase by $1.25 and Uber/Lyft rideshare fares would increase by $2.50 as a result.
Breaking News: New York City’s highly contested congestion pricing program, the first in the U.S., will go into effect June 30, the MTA announced. Legal and political disagreements still threaten to dilute or halt the program. https://t.co/6A1llTNpFk
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 26, 2024
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There are multiple battles to stop the law from being implemented, including one from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, as well as several unions and New York City officials.
“Instead of enforcing the law and capturing the $700 million in fare evasion the #MTA loses every year, they are pushing for congestion pricing to bring in the funds from the hardworking middle class,” argued Honorable Michael Tannousis (R), a city Assembly Member for New York’s 64th District.
Instead of enforcing the law and capturing the $700 million in fare evasion the #MTA loses every year, they are pushing for congestion pricing to bring in the funds from the hardworking middle class. #congestionpricing pic.twitter.com/cn1bkwJP2Q
— Mike Tannousis (@MikeTannousis) April 24, 2024
As Valuetainment previously reported, New York City transit official confirmed in December 2023 that they would be implementing the congestion price hike. The city hopes to bring in $1 billion annually with the new toll and claims the funds will be spent on improving New York’s subway and bus systems.
Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been a strong supporter of the price hike. “Congestion pricing means cleaner air, better transit and less gridlock on New York City’s streets and today’s vote by the MTA Board is a critical step forward,” she said at the time. “The proposal approved today heeds my call to lower the toll rate by nearly 35 percent from the maximum rate originally considered.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams complained that they would not be providing exemptions to city officials. “I think you were doing very well until you said people working at City Hall. You know, they, we have to pay,” Adams said.
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
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