STATEN ISLAND, NY — With Wednesday’s release of the environmental assessment for New York City’s proposed congestion pricing program, drivers got an inside look at how much they could be charged to drive in the Central Business District ( CBD) of Manhattan.
The comprehensive report outlines seven different toll scenarios, with higher toll rates of up to $23 during peak hours in scenarios that offer additional credits, limits and exemptions to certain vehicles.
In all the scenarios described below, personal cars, motorcycles and commercial vans would be limited to one CBD toll per day, although other vehicles may be charged multiple times.
Neither scenario described would provide an extra credit for drivers who cross the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge before moving into town, something elected district officials have pushed for since the program was first proposed.
All scenarios, with the exception of Scenario F, would use the following time periods to determine peak, off-peak, and nighttime.
Peak: weekdays – from 6 a.m. to 8 p.mPeak: weekends – from 10 a.m. to 10 p.mOff-peak: weekdays – from 8 to 10 p.mDuring the night: weekdays – from 22:00 to 6:00Night: weekends – from 22:00 to 10:00
The toll rates outlined in the document would apply to personal cars, motorcycles and commercial vans using E-ZPass, with higher rates for those using the toll-by-mail option.
These vehicles could see E-ZPass fees ranging from $9 to $23 during peak periods and $5 to $12 during nighttime hours, depending on the scenario selected.
Larger vehicles would also be charged higher fees in the first six scenarios, with maximum E-ZPass fees for small trucks ranging from $12 to $65 and for large trucks from $12 to $82 .
Here’s a look at the seven toll scenarios.
Scenario A – Base plan
Credits: There are no credits for drivers using bridges or tunnels to access the CBD.
Limits and Exemptions: There are no limits or exemptions for taxis, rental vehicles, trucks and buses.
Maximum toll rate: $9
Off-peak toll fee: $7
Night toll fee: $5
Scenario B – Base plan with limits and exemptions
Credits: There are no credits for drivers using bridges or tunnels to access the CBD.
Limits and exemptions: Taxis and rental vehicles would be limited to one toll per day; Trucks would have a limit of two tolls per day; buses would be exempt from tolls.
Maximum toll rate: $10
Off-peak toll fee: $8
Night toll fee: $5
Scenario C: Low crossing credits for vehicles using tunnels to access the CBD, with some limits and exemptions
Credits: Credits of up to $6.55 for drivers who use tunnels, but not bridges, to access the CBD.
Limits and Exemptions: Taxis would be exempt from tolls; Rental vehicles would have a limit of three tolls per day; Trucks and buses would have no limit.
Maximum toll rate: $14
Off-peak toll fee: $11
Night toll fee: $7
Scenario D – High pass credits for vehicles using tunnels to access the CBD
Credits: Credits of up to $13.10 for drivers using tunnels, but not bridges, to access the CBD.
Limits and Exemptions: There are no limits or exemptions for taxis, rental vehicles, trucks and buses.
Maximum toll rate: $19
Off-peak toll fee: $14
Night toll fee: $10
Scenario E – High pass credits for vehicles using tunnels to access the CBD, with some limits and exemptions
Credits: Credits of up to $13.10 for drivers using tunnels, but not bridges, to access the CBD.
Limits and Exemptions: Taxis would be exempt from tolls; Rental vehicles would have a limit of three tolls per day; Trucks would have no limit; Transit buses would be exempt, with no limit for other buses.
Maximum toll rate: $23
Off-peak toll fee: $17
Night toll fee: $12
Scenario F: High crossing credits for vehicles using Manhattan bridges and tunnels to access the CBD, with some limits and exemptions
Scenario F is the only scenario that would use different time periods to determine peak hours, off-peak hours, and evening hours, as noted below.
Peak: Weekdays: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Peak: weekends – from 10 a.m. to 10 p.mOff-peak: weekdays – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.mFor the night: weekdays – from 20:00 to 06:00Night: weekends – from 22:00 to 10:00
Credits: Credits of up to $13.10 for drivers using tunnels or bridges to access the CBD.
Limits and exemptions: Taxis, rental vehicles and trucks would be limited to one toll per day; Buses would be exempt from tolls.
Maximum toll rate: $23
Off-peak toll fee: $17
Night toll fee: $12
Scenario G: Base plan with the same tolls for all vehicle classes
Credits: There are no credits for drivers using bridges or tunnels to access the CBD.
Limits and Exemptions: There are no limits or exemptions for taxis, rental vehicles, trucks and buses.
Maximum toll rate: $12
Off-peak toll fee: $9
Night toll fee: $7
ON CONGESTION PRICES
As part of the State budget of $175 billion approved on April 1, 2019, the MTA’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) has been authorized to establish the Central District Business Toll Program (CBDTP), which will charge commuters a variable rate for drive into Manhattan’s central business district, defined as anything south of 60th Street.
Congestion pricing refers to the use of electronic tolls to charge vehicles to enter certain areas during peak travel times, which ideally reduces traffic congestion and increases revenue for projects targeting traffic
Revenue generated by the program will be tied up and placed in a designated MTA “lockbox” to fund capital improvements to the city’s struggling public transit system.
The program is expected to generate $1 billion annually, which will be used to secure $15 billion in bonds for transit system repairs and improvements.
The electronic toll system will work similarly to the cashless toll system on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, where overhead sensors read drivers’ E-ZPass tags and administer the fee directly to their account.
For non-E-ZPass drivers, overhead cameras would photograph their license plate and a bill would be sent directly to them.
Non-E-ZPass drivers could be subject to a higher fee similar to the “toll by mail” option that charges drivers higher toll rates on the agency’s bridges and tunnels for those without E -ZPass.
The price increase would be justified by the administrative costs of processing and direct billing to the driver.
In October 2019, the MTA selected TransCore to design, build, operate and maintain the infrastructure and tolling equipment required for the congestion pricing program.
The company is expected to install most of the toll collection equipment on existing poles and pole arms “in order to have a minimal footprint and fit into existing urban landscapes.”
Currently, emergency vehicles and those carrying people with disabilities are the only required exemptions from the program, with tax breaks for residents living in the CBD and earning less than $60,000.
Drivers on the FDR Drive, West Side Highway and sections of the Battery Park Underpass and the Hugh Carey Tunnel connecting the two will not be subject to tolls, unless exiting the CBD.
Once the MTA completes its next phase of public outreach, the six-member Transit Mobility Review Board will recommend the final toll pricing to the TBTA, which will ultimately set the toll pricing.