The MTA announced that starting January 5, 2025, Congestion Pricing will begin. Even though we celebrated earlier in the year, the MTA waited until the election was over to recommence their push for Congestion Pricing.
Due to prior opposition, the MTA reluctantly reduced the Congestion Pricing from $15 for each passenger vehicle to $9. But, buried in their plans is the ramp up from $9 to $12 to $15 over the next seven years. The overview is if you travel below 60th Street, you will be charged $9 during their peak times and $2.50 during their overnight periods. Peak times run from 5:00 AM through 9:00 PM during the weekdays and 9:00 AM through 9:00 PM on weekends. the overnight period is 9:00 PM through 5:00 AM on weekdays and 9:00 PM through 9:00 AM on weekends.
We should have known better that the MTA would not give up Congestion Pricing especially after it wanted to charge the New York Road Runners $750,000 for marathoners to use the Verrazzano Bridge on Marathon Day! Also, they were contemplating charging the Bike New York organization to use the Verrazzano Bridge during its Five Boro Bike Tour. The MTA is looking for alternative revenue streams to subsidize their operational shortcomings.
All the moves that the MTA is pursuing is trying to make up for operational and capital shortages from bridge and tunnel tolls and subway fares. The MTA was unable to justify additional funds from New York State or an increase in the tolls and fares. I bet they feared the backlash if they tried. The MTA is trying to claim that the Congestion Pricing will reduce traffic and increase air quality because people will take mass transportation instead of driving in. I do not know who they are kidding but this is clearly a money grab. For example, I do not know if people who want to see a Broadway show or have a dinner in NYC will consider taking the train as opposed to driving in. What may develop is that people could say, let’s eat out locally instead. The people who will suffer will be the local businesses that rely on visitors for their sales!
I would expect the temperature and complaints to escalate as we get closer to January 5th. Time will tell but I recommend you reach out to your local senators and assembly members and express your opinions!