MTA holding hearings on congestion pricing's environmental assessment
Vehicles arrive in Manhattan after crossing the Williamsburg Bridge from Brooklyn on Feb. 26, 2019. Credit: Charles Eckert
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to begin a series of six virtual public hearings this week that will allow commuters to weigh in on the environmental assessment of the MTA’s proposed congestion pricing plan.
The first hearing is on Thursday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 8 p.m. All attendees and speakers must register for the sessions.
The environmental assessment of the Central Business District Tolling Program studied the impact of proposed congestion pricing below 60th Street in Manhattan. The report, which was prepared by the MTA, the state Department of Transportation and the New York City Department of Transportation, was released earlier this month. Officials said the plan would reduce traffic congestion in the Manhattan Central Business District and raise revenue for investment in transit.
“The environmental assessment presents a range of options,” MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan said Sunday. “We encourage members of the public to share their views with the project sponsors by participating in the public hearings or submitting comments for the record.”
The program, which would create new tolls for driving within the city’s “Central Business District,” could cost non-E-ZPass customers up to $34.50 more per day for driving into Manhattan. If approved, the new tolls could be implemented by late 2023, or early 2024, according to the report.
"The tremendous detail included in this assessment makes clear the widespread benefits that would result from central business district tolling,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber in a news release.
The Central Business District Tolling Zone would cover 60th Street in Manhattan and all the roadways south of 60th Street, except for the FDR Drive, West Side Highway/9A, Battery Park Underpass, and any surface roadway portions of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street.
According to the assessment, 85% of existing work trips to the business district are made by mass transit, 5% by car from New York City, 3% by car from New York suburban counties, 3% by car from New Jersey, 0.2% by car from Connecticut, and 4% by other modes, including taxis, for-hire vehicles, bicycling and walking.
Project officials said the program would reduce the number of vehicles entering the business district by 15.4% to 19.9%, depending on the tolling scenario. The reduction in vehicles would also increase transit ridership by 1% to 2%.
The assessment looked at a variety of factors including regional air quality, regional transportation, and parking.
To access the public hearings or to add a comment, the public can visit online on the day and time of the hearing. Project officials are accepting comments online, by email, mail, phone and fax.
Following the public review period, which is scheduled to end on Sept. 9, the Federal Highway Administration will determine if the plan presents any significant impact on the area. If the FHA approves the project, contractors would have 310 days to design, develop and implement the tolling infrastructure and tolling system technology, project officials said.
The virtual hearings are set for:
- Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 30, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
With Alfonso A. Castillo
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