Will Congestion Pricing Make Manhattan a “Walker’s Paradise”?

Manhattan could become a walker’s paradise thanks to congestion pricing, according to some.

“A coming fee on vehicles entering Manhattan’s most congested streets won’t just reduce traffic while funding improvements to the subway. It could also lead to wider sidewalks, expanded bus and bike lanes, and new pedestrian plazas,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “At least that is the vision that New York City’s transportation chief has for Manhattan if the fee significantly reduces congestion.

“It certainly would open up a lot of pretty transformative possibilities,” Polly Trottenberg, New York City’s transportation chief, told the newspaper in an interview.

Legislators said yes to congestion fees earlier this year as part of the state’s budget. According to the City, under the plan:

* Electronic tolling devices would be installed on the perimeter of the Central Business District (CBD) defined as streets south of 61st St. in Manhattan.

* The FDR Drive will not be included in the Central Business District.

* The electronic tolling system will account for tolls previously paid by drivers entering Manhattan from designated crossings.

* The system will be installed and operated pursuant to an MOU between the City of New York and the MTA for the purposes of ensuring the timely completion of the installation of congestion infrastructure in order to effectuate a congestion pricing plan, and recognizing the expertise of the TBTA for purposes of running and operating cashless tolling systems and City agencies for purposes of the use and impact of infrastructure installation on City streets.

* Tolls will be variable providing discounts for off-peak hour travel.

* Emergency vehicles will be exempt from congestion pricing tolls.

* Other exemptions or discounts will be provided to a limited group of vehicles entering the CBD including vehicles operated by or transporting people with disabilities and individuals who have an identifiable hardship or limited ability to access medical facilities in the CBD.

Congestion pricing tolls will be supplemented with State and City revenue from a fixed amount of the new internet sales tax derived from sales in New York City, with a growth factor, and a percentage of the State and City revenue from the cannabis excise tax.

“Congestion pricing revenue and these two taxes will be placed in a ‘lockbox’ to provide a funding source necessary to ensure the capital needs of the MTA can be met, with priority given to the subway system, new signaling, new subway cars, track and car repair, accessibility, buses and bus system improvements and further investments in expanding transit availability to areas in the outer boroughs that have limited mass transit options,” according to de Blasio’s office.

Tolls will be set once the electronic infrastructure is in place and a Capital Plan is finalized but will in no event be set later than December 2020.