This spring, Torres came out in support of the policy and spoke at Hochul's announcement ceremony on Tuesday.
#Nyc congestion toll install#
But since then, he's extracted big environmental wins for his district, including tens of millions of dollars to electrify diesel-powered refrigeration trucks, install air filtration systems for schools, and upgrade parks, among other measures. Torres, who represents parts of the Bronx, condemned the policy last year after an MTA environmental assessment showed it could divert traffic into the Bronx, increasing pollution in an area already struggling with poor air quality and high rates of asthma. Komanoff suggested that New Jersey lawmakers take a page out of Democratic Rep.
#Nyc congestion toll drivers#
Many congestion pricing advocates, including Komanoff and Schwartz, want exemptions for both taxi and ride-hail drivers, with yellow cab drivers paying nominal or no additional tolls.Ĭritics have also raised concerns about the policy potentially increasing traffic and pollution outside Manhattan, particularly in marginalized communities in the Bronx. Taxi and for-hire drivers are also staunchly opposed to any congestion fee. "If they're looking for some exemptions, I think New Yorkers should get exemptions in New Jersey." They claim that double-tolling is anti-American, whereas no place has more double- and triple-tolling than New Jersey," Schwartz said. "These elected officials in New Jersey tout what great environmentalists they are. Schwartz argued that it's hypocritical of New Jersey to demand exemptions from other states' tolls, when the Garden State charges a slew of fees on drivers passing through the state. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from the Bronx, supports congestion pricing after extracting key environmental wins for his district. "The whole thing would have been so much less virulent and less vituperative," he said, calling the double fees on tunnel drivers "really poor public policy" and "a basic fairness thing." He also argued that the MTA significantly undercounted the number of cars that will leave the roads, thus exaggerating the amount of diverted traffic and pollution New Jersey and the outer boroughs will face.
Komanoff blames the MTA for a "bungled" policy roll-out that has stoked a massive, avoidable outcry, particularly from New Jersey politicians. He and Schwartz would like to see the tunnel toll deducted from the congestion fee.
#Nyc congestion toll full#
Komanoff said most congestion pricing advocates agree - they don't want drivers who enter lower Manhattan through the tunnels to pay the full congestion toll. Gottheimer and Bill Pascrell saying in a joint statement this week that these drivers should be exempt from the congestion tax. New Jersey lawmakers seized on this double tax as a central sticking point, with Sen. The situation has laid bare tensions between the commuters who regularly drive in the city, and those who are more concerned about the environmental impact of traffic and the possibility of reinvesting in transit infrastructure. While many New Yorkers, transportation experts, and city planners celebrated this week, critics - including Democrats across the river in New Jersey - say they'll do everything in their power to stop the plan. The next step is for a small panel appointed by the governor and mayor to decide what the toll prices would be and which drivers could be exempt. But this week, the Federal Highway Administration granted the MTA final approval to move forward with the policy. The details of the so-called Central Business District Tolling Program still need to be ironed out. It aims to reduce the 700,000 trucks, cars, and taxis that drive into the Manhattan zone by at least 10%, while simultaneously generating about $1 billion in proceeds per year to fund mass transit. The policy would impose a toll between $9 and $23 on drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th Street and use the revenue to fund the MTA. Kathy Hochul is championing a policy known as congestion pricing. To reduce traffic and pollution and boost funding for the city's subways, buses, and commuter rail, New York Gov. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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