Your congestion pricing reader

A federal judge's decision has paved the way for congestion pricing to take effect tomorrow (Sunday!), following the rejection of a last-minute challenge from the state of New Jersey. 

New Jersey's legal reps reportedly vowed to appeal. 

Per Gothamist: U.S. Senior Judge Leo Gordon issued the ruling last night, allowing the MTA to proceed with its plan to implement the toll as scheduled. The program has been in development for years and aims to reduce traffic congestion in Midtown and Lower Manhattan while generating billions of dollars in revenue for the MTA. 

Gov. Hochul resurrected the plan in November after a summer postponement. Under the revised pricing, most passenger car drivers must pay a $9 toll when they enter Manhattan south of 60th Street (down from $15 in the previous plan). This is the first of its kind in the United States.

Background from CBS 2: 

Manhattan's Congestion Relief Zone starts at 60th Street and heads south to include the Lincoln, Holland and Hugh L. Carey tunnels on the Hudson River side, and the Queensboro Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge on the East Side. 

Drivers will be charged when they enter the Congestion Relief Zone using the Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queensboro or Williamsburg Bridges, or the Holland, Hugh L. Carey, Lincoln or Queens-Midtown tunnels. 

There are many variables. From the MTA: "The toll amount will depend on the type of vehicle, time of day, whether any crossing credits apply, and the method of payment. There are also discounts and exemptions that will apply to certain drivers or vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone using an E-ZPass NY account." 

Visit this MTA link (PDF!) for a breakdown of toll prices. 

The story has been well-covered. Here's a selection of headlines to get you up to speed. 

• Judge denies New Jersey request; congestion pricing will begin on Sunday (ABC7) 

• Welcome to the Congestion Zone: New York Toll Program Is Set to Begin (The New York Times) 

• Congestion Pricing Is Happening: Cue the Irrational Drama from the Placard Elite and the Suburbs (Streetsblog) 

• Congestion pricing map NYC: See where tolls apply (PIX 11)

• Uber, Lyft spent millions pushing for NYC congestion pricing — and stand to make a killing (The Post)

Reminders: Community Board 3 to discuss congestion pricing at public meeting tonight

ICYMI from a June 11 post: 

Community Board 3 has added a special meeting this month to address Gov. Hochul's decision to indefinitely pause congestion pricing.

Here's more via an email from CB3 Chair Andrea Gordillo: 

Community Boards 1-6 have discussed signing on to a letter to all parties involved with the MTA's Congestion Pricing Plan, asking to reverse course on the Governor's decision. Given the unprecedented nature of the abrupt policy shift, its potential cost to the MTA, and public trust in government, Community Board 3 will convene this special meeting after the public session of its June Full Board meeting to discuss and vote on the contents of the letter which would ask the Governor to proceed with congestion pricing. 

We encourage members of the public to attend the meeting and sign up to give public comment, and we ask for your support in reaching out to our communities to inform them of the opportunity to comment on this important decision. 

The full CB3 meeting is TONIGHT — Tuesday, June 25, at P.S. 20, 166 Essex St., between Houston and Stanton. 

The first four public speakers for and against the subject matter are allowed to speak. They may arrive at 6 p.m. Otherwise, members of the public are welcome to email comments to mn03@cb.nyc.gov. The Board meeting will also be livestreamed on YouTube here.

In pausing the plan, Hochul expressed concerns about the timing and state of the city's post-pandemic recovery. 

Under the congestion-pricing plan, most people driving passenger vehicles into Manhattan below 60th Street would need to pay a minimum of $15, with larger vehicles incurring higher charges. 

The MTA has already spent tens of millions of dollars to install cameras, sensors, license plate readers, and other equipment on city roadways in preparation for the plan's launch. The anticipated fee was projected to generate around $1 billion annually, benefiting subway and bus systems that serve approximately 4 million daily riders. 

The move also represents a dramatic reversal for public transit advocates, who had supported congestion pricing to raise money for NYC's struggling subway and commuter rail systems and reduce traffic on city streets.

Community Board 3 adds a special meeting on congestion pricing to June's agenda

3rd Avenue photo by deberarr 

Community Board 3 has added a special meeting this month to address Gov. Hochul's decision to indefinitely pause congestion pricing, which was set to go into effect at the end of June. 

Here's more via an email from CB3 Chair Andrea Gordillo: 

Community Boards 1-6 have discussed signing on to a letter to all parties involved with the MTA's Congestion Pricing Plan, asking to reverse course on the Governor's decision. Given the unprecedented nature of the abrupt policy shift, its potential cost to the MTA, and public trust in government, Community Board 3 will convene this special meeting after the public session of its June Full Board meeting to discuss and vote on the contents of the letter which would ask the Governor to proceed with congestion pricing. 

We encourage members of the public to attend the meeting and sign up to give public comment, and we ask for your support in reaching out to our communities to inform them of the opportunity to comment on this important decision. 

The full CB3 meeting is Tuesday, June 25, at P.S. 20, 166 Essex St., between Houston and Stanton. 

The item was also added to tonight's (June 11) meeting of CB3's Transportation, Public Safety, Sanitation, and Environment Committee. 

Per Gordillo's email: "This decision to add this to the agenda after the agenda was posted, while also unprecedented, was made to ensure the broadest base of public comment, and exceptions like this are not to be granted again." 

Tonight's hybrid committee meeting starts at 6:30 at the CB3 office, 59 E. Fourth St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. Limited seating is available to the first 15 people. Members of the public can also attend by Zoom here. 

In a statement last Wednesday, Hochul expressed concerns about the timing and state of the city's post-pandemic recovery. 

Under the congestion-pricing plan, most people driving passenger vehicles into Manhattan below 60th Street would need to pay a minimum of $15, with larger vehicles incurring higher charges. 

The MTA has already spent tens of millions of dollars to install cameras, sensors, license plate readers, and other equipment on city roadways in preparation for the plan's launch. The anticipated fee was projected to generate around $1 billion annually, benefiting subway and bus systems that serve approximately 4 million daily riders. 

The move also represents a dramatic reversal for public transit advocates, who had supported congestion pricing to raise money for NYC's struggling subway and commuter rail systems and reduce traffic on city streets.

Cooper Union hosting congestion pricing public hearing tomorrow night

Carol from East 5th Street shared this photo of signs spotted hanging around the neighborhood...

That's one point of view on congestion pricing... and a reminder that Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is hosting a public hearing tomorrow night on "congestion pricing’s impact on Manhattanites."

Per her invite:

The congestion pricing plan now under consideration in Albany has the potential to change the way Manhattan works in a major way. For example, equalizing the tolls on all bridges and tunnels would reduce the incentive to cross Manhattan via Canal St. to reach New Jersey.

I want to know what Manhattanites think. Attend this public hearing, learn more about the proposal from the experts — and make your voice heard!

The meeting is from 6-9 p.m. at Cooper Union's Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square — the building that looks like the spaceship between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

And here's another view on congestion pricing via Streetsblog.