Motorists heading into a few of Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods have begun shelling out a first-in-the-nation $9 congestion toll — a controversial levy critics contend will drive folks out of Gotham and devastate the native financial system.
The scheme formally took impact midnight on Sunday, which means drivers coming into town under sixtieth Road will now have pay $9 throughout peak hours — 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends — and $2.25 for off-peak hours.
Throughout peak hours, giant vehicles pays $21.60, small vehicles $14.40 and bikes $4.50.
Drivers on Saturday ripped the plan and trashed Gov. Kathy Hochul, hours earlier than the scheme went into impact.
“We pay some huge cash to reside on this previously fantastic metropolis, that has taken some hits lately, and I feel it’s horrible to be charging people who pay taxes who reside right here more money after they cross 61st St,” stated Samantha Popper, a 44-year-old stay-at-home-mom who lives close by.
“It’s infuriating that in simply one other day we’ll be charged a hefty toll simply to cross 61st, which is simply in my neighborhood,” she added.
Her message to Gov. Kathy Hochul: “work lots more durable” to maintain New Yorkers right here and don’t “attempt to run them out of town by up-charging them.”
Brian Anderson, a 42-year-old information-technology specialist, stated he lived within the metropolis over a decade however moved to New Jersey 5 years in the past after being clocked within the face and knocked unconscious whereas studying a ebook on the subway.
He stated he moved particularly to keep away from utilizing the mass transit however now realizes that may not be an choice financially.
“I’ll in all probability will likely be taking NJ Transit extra usually, and that’s no enjoyable,” he stated.
“In any other case, it’s gonna price me $30 to $40 simply to get to the opposite facet of the Hudson.“
Lyft driver Jose Siera ripped the scheme as a “cash seize.”
“The tolls are going up additionally, bridges, they’re elevating the costs additionally. It’s gonna suck,” he stated.
And Uber driver Luigi stated “the entire thing is a rip-off”
“Persons are not going to be driving their autos into town,” he stated.
“The taxi drivers, the Uber drivers , we’re gonna put this price on them — so you might be punishing them.”
Hochul and the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority raced in opposition to the clock to impose the toll earlier than President-elect Donald Trump takes workplace Jan. 20. He has ripped congestion pricing because the “most regressive tax recognized to womankind.”
Trump joins the 51% of New Yorkers against the controversial tax, whereas 29% assist it, and one other 20% are uncertain, in accordance with a Siena School ballot earlier this month.
“This money seize will solely harm commuters’ wallets and our native financial system, and I’m already listening to from tons of people that say they’ll by no means go to Manhattan once more, which will definitely have an effect on eating places, the theater and small enterprise,” stated Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
The MTA claims the tolls are mandatory to cut back air pollution brought on by gridlock and to lift $15 billion for mass transit upgrades, equivalent to extending the Second Avenue subway, sign enhancements and shopping for lots of of latest electrical buses.
The company is offering a $3 credit score for passenger vehicles with EZPass that enter the toll zone by means of the Lincoln, Queens-Midtown, Hugh L. Carey or Holland tunnels throughout peak hours.
Drivers incomes lower than $50,000 can apply for a 50% low cost for all journeys after the primary 10 in a calendar month.
The architects hope the plan will push extra drivers to make use of public transit — however the rollout comes after 10 folks had been murdered within the subway system final 12 months.
Opponents equivalent to Susan Lee urged the MTA to first modernize the system and make it safer.
“I attempt to solely go on the subway throughout rush hour as a result of it’s not secure,” stated Lee, a Chinatown activist and president of New Yorkers In opposition to Congestion Pricing Tax.
The $9 “entry payment” would devastate Chinatown and different toll-zone neighborhoods equivalent to Little Italy and the Decrease East Facet by driving up supply prices and making journey too costly for purchasers, she warned.
And the scheme has been met with fierce opposition by working-class commuters — together with academics and cops, firefighters and different first responders — who say they are going to unfairly must bear the monetary price of the added tolls.
There’s at the very least 10 pending lawsuits opposing congestion tolling, however specialists have stated it’ll be tougher to place the brakes on it as soon as it’s up and operating.
A federal decide on Friday shot down New Jersey’s emergency request to cease the brand new tolling program, and an appellate panel upheld the rejection Saturday.
The congestion tolls started slamming drivers the identical day the Port Authority additionally raised costs for its bridges and tunnels.
For many autos, the brand new PA tolls will go up from $15.38 to $16.06 throughout peak hours, and $18.31 with out E-ZPass.
Together with congestion tolls, driver touring into Manhattan from New Jersey by means of the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels will in the end must shell out $22.06 throughout peak hours and $31.81 in the event that they don’t have E-ZPass.
Hochul abruptly paused this system earlier than it was set to launch in June with a $15 toll following outcry from Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and different pols who stated it might doom Democratic candidates in suburban Home seats.
She waited till after November’s normal election earlier than caving into the calls for of car-hating environmental teams and different extremists earlier than pushing her decreased $9 tolling scheme, which is scheduled to leap to $12 for many autos in 2028 and $15 in 2031.
The tolls are the primary of their sort within the U.S, however London and another cities world wide have rolled out related applications.
Extra reporting by Khristina Narizhnaya and Marie Pohl.
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