Introduction of Manhattan congestion fees: New York authorities shared new details

Manhattan congestion pricing has faced further delays. MTA officials struggle to answer hundreds of questions about a plan to charge motorists passing south of 60th Street in Manhattan. Daily News.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Janno Lieber on Wednesday, May 25, lamented the lengthy approval process that would give the program a green light as streets in Manhattan receive federal funding.

“The team is working hard to answer all these questions, to do new modeling, to do new analysis,” Lieber said during a press conference.

Fares can range from $9 to $23, MTA officials said last year. This money is required by state law to fund the $15 billion under the MTA's 2020-2024 overhaul plan. The funds will go toward major improvements to New York City's public transportation infrastructure.

The Federal Highway Administration sent 11 questions and comments on the plan to the MTA on March 430. They must be answered before the MTA can release the draft for public review.

It was originally planned that the draft environmental assessment would be published in June

Transit officials last year expected the feds to give it final approval by the end of 2022.

MTA officials last year said it would take 310 days after the feds approve the fares. Enough to install the infrastructure to launch the toll, pushing the launch date to the end of 2023. Due to recent delays, the launch may be delayed until 2024.

The delay is due to traffic in many areas of New York returning to pre-pandemic levels. Congestion pricing programs in cities like London and Stockholm have reduced traffic in busy areas and pushed passengers to switch to transit.

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Transportation analyst Charlie Komanoff accused Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Governor Hokul of cowardice. In particular, he said that the postponement reduces the quality of life in the city.

“Buttigieg and Hokul's bureaucracy is dooming New Yorkers to a deadly, chokehold movement,” Komanoff said. – What are they afraid of? That three drivers or one gas station owner somewhere could be worse off so that millions can travel and breathe freely?”

Pricing approved by state legislators and former Governor Andrew Cuomo in April 2019; the plan was expected to be launched in early 2021

For nearly two years, MTA officials have accused federal employees under former President Donald Trump of delaying the program's approval. However, they did not provide guidance on what type of environmental review process the agency should undertake.

The situation changed in March 2021. Federal highway officials have announced that the MTA may submit an environmental assessment to determine entry prices. This is a much less time-consuming process than preparing an environmental impact report. Because it would require the agency to carefully identify alternatives to tolling.

A Federal Highway Administration spokesman said the agency is committed to making a timely and informed decision on the project with the help of the MTA, city and state officials.