Congestion pricing tolls are actually in impact
Photograph by KENA BETANCUR/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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Council Member Robert Holden stays hopeful {that a} pending authorized problem by the city of Hempstead will pause New York Metropolis’s controversial congestion pricing toll regardless of a latest federal court docket ruling permitting it to proceed.
On Friday, Jan. 3, a New Jersey federal choose shot down a pushback towards the tolls, which took impact after midnight on Jan. 5, however Holden stays assured that it’ll nonetheless be paused.
Choose Leo Gordon rejected many of the complaints towards the brand new toll charges however did rule that a number of the potential impacts of congestion pricing on New Jersey communities required additional research, particularly issues over how the toll would influence air high quality in New Jersey. Gordon set a deadline of Jan. 17 for New York and the Federal Freeway Administration (FHWA) to answer issues over the environmental impacts of congestion pricing.
Regardless of the Eleventh-hour failure, one other revolt towards congestion pricing, introduced by the city of Hempstead, is at the moment looming.
“While I’m disappointed in the New Jersey federal court’s bad decision, I’m confident the Hempstead SAPA State Court case will pause the congestion scam tax. This regressive toll would hurt New Yorkers, outer borough residents, and even those from out of state who work in the city,” said Holden.
“We won’t let King Lieber and Tyrant Hochul destroy Manhattan’s economy and punish hardworking commuters to line the MTA’s pockets.”
Holden, who represents the Queens District 30 neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Center Village, and Glendale, has at all times been adamantly towards Hochul’s congestion pricing plan. She had paused it over the summer time however reintroduced the tolls at a decrease charge in November.
CM Holden stays assured that the tolls shall be finally paused. Photograph by James Carbone/Newsday RM by way of Getty Pictures
Autos getting into Manhattan via the Queens Midtown Tunnel shall be charged a congestion price as they have to go onto residential streets upon exiting the tunnel. This consists of drivers heading to the close by FDR Drive, as reaching the freeway requires driving via residential areas.
Drivers getting into the congestion zone throughout peak hours can obtain a crossing credit score of as much as $3. Extra particulars on reductions can be found right here.
These utilizing the tunnel to go away Manhattan and never beginning their journey throughout the congestion zone will nonetheless be charged. This is applicable even when they accessed the FDR Drive earlier than approaching the tunnel, because the strategy includes driving via Manhattan residential streets.
The toll will cost motorists $9 to enter Manhattan south of sixtieth Avenue throughout peak hours, that are 5 a.m. till 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. on weekends. Motorists getting into the congestion zone outdoors peak occasions should pay a toll of $2.25.
In the meantime, motorists utilizing the Ed Kock Queensboro Bridge shall be charged the toll in the event that they drive on the decrease degree or exit the higher degree onto residential streets positioned throughout the congestion zone. Motorists who exit the bridge straight onto Manhattan’s 62nd St. is not going to be charged the toll until they subsequently journey south of sixtieth St.
Additionally, drivers getting into Manhattan from Queens by way of the Triborough Bridge will arrive north of the congestion zone and can solely pay a congestion price in the event that they journey onto residential streets south of sixtieth St.