Prefer it or not, congestion pricing has arrived — however not with out questions from drivers.
Whereas the MTA has tried to handle many considerations each within the leadup to and after the plan went into impact, drivers nonetheless haven’t been fully positive of all the foundations in terms of who’s charged, after they get charged, what number of instances they are often charged every day, and extra.
Here’s a breakdown of what the adjustments imply for drivers:
Who will probably be charged?
Virtually all drivers of most vehicles, SUVs, small vans and pickup vans.
Who’s exempt?
Sure emergency automobiles, faculty buses, folks with disabilities who can’t take public transportation, and the individuals who transport them are all exempt. Low-income drivers who pay the toll 10 instances in a month can apply for a 50% low cost on journeys they take the remainder of the month.
There’s additionally somewhat break for individuals who have already paid a toll to enter Manhattan on the Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel, Queens-Midtown Tunnel or Hugh L. Carey Tunnel throughout peak hours. They need to see a credit score on their E-ZPass of as much as $3 for passenger automobiles and extra for vans and buses.
Nonetheless, with tolls for bridges and tunnels from New Jersey set to go up within the new 12 months, a driver coming by way of the Holland Tunnel throughout peak visitors may pay $22 even with the credit score.
How a lot is the toll?
The fee to drivers relies on what time of the day it’s and if drivers have an E-ZPass, an digital toll assortment system that’s utilized in many states.
Throughout peak visitors hours, drivers with an E-ZPass will probably be charged $9, as soon as per day. For off-peak hours, the tolls go right down to $2.25.
Peak visitors hours will probably be from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
Drivers with out an E-ZPass will obtain payments by mail and pay extra: $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 off-peak.
Motorcyclists pays half the quantity that vehicles pay throughout peak. Drivers of buses and vans, relying on their measurement, pays extra.
What number of instances can I be charged every day?
For many drivers, they’ll solely be charged as soon as per day.
In response to the MTA, any widespread automobile — together with sedans, SUVs, station wagons — will solely be charged as soon as. Pickup vans with manufacturing unit beds, or with caps which can be beneath the roofline and don’t prolong over the perimeters, fall beneath that very same class. It additionally applies to hearses, limos and vans with out an prolonged roof above the windshield.
The next will probably be charged each time they enter, regardless of whether it is on the identical day:
Pickup vans with modified beds
Pickup vans with caps that go above the roofline or prolong over the perimeters of the mattress
Vans which have been modified behind the driving force’s cab
Multi-unit vans, together with articulated vans the place an influence unit is carrying a number of trailers
When do drivers get charged?
The toll is charged when drivers enter the Congestion Reduction Zone, beneath 61st Avenue in Manhattan. There isn’t any cost for leaving the zone.
There aren’t any further tolls for driving round throughout the Congestion Reduction Zone, regardless of if it’s the identical day or another day after that. Drivers will solely be charged upon re-entering the world after they depart, assuming it happens on a special day of after they entered the zone.
Will drivers utilizing the West Facet Freeway or FDR Drive be charged?
Drivers will not be charged for utilizing the West Facet Freeway or FDR Drive completely, however it relies on the place the driving force is heading.
Any driver heading straight via on the West Facet Freeway to the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, or vice-versa, won’t face a toll. Drivers staying on FDR Drive can even not must pay, assuming they keep on the freeway and don’t enter Manhattan’s road grid at any level.
Different drivers utilizing the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge will probably be charged if the journey can’t be accomplished with out remaining “exclusively on highways.” For instance, drivers on going from the FDR to the Brooklyn Bridge with out utilizing facet streets, so they will not face a toll. Similar goes for vehicles coming from the Brooklyn Bridge onto the northbound facet of the FDR.
Nevertheless, vehicles coming off the Brooklyn Bridge onto the southbound lanes of FDR Drive will probably be tolled, as a result of automobiles enter the road grid at Pearl Avenue in decrease Manhattan. Similar goes for drivers going from the FDR to the Manhattan Bridge or Williamsburg Bridge.
For these between FDR Drive and Queensboro Bridge, it is going to be tolled as effectively, with one exception: These touring from Queens to the Higher East Facet on the bridge’s higher degree, as a result of that exit dumps out onto East 62nd Avenue — above the Congestion Reduction Zone.
Can vehicles keep away from the toll by parking simply off an excluded roadway (just like the FDR or West Facet Freeway)?
No. The MTA mentioned that automobiles getting into the Congestion Reduction Zone on roads like FDR Drive or West Facet Freeway after which are now not seen by cameras at different detection factors will probably be charged a toll.
What about taxi or Uber rides?
Passengers in taxis and for-hire automobiles could have a per-trip surcharge added to their fares for rides to, from, inside or via the Congestion Reduction Zone. That cost is 75 cents for folks taking taxis, inexperienced cabs and black vehicles, and $1.50 for Uber or Lyft passengers.
