By: Hal C Clarke

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has initiated the installation of camera equipment on New York highways as part of preparations for a contentious $15 congestion toll for entering Manhattan’s central business district south of 60th Street, set to be implemented as early as May. License plate readers have been placed above FDR Drive at East 25th Street and on Route 9A/the West Side Highway to track vehicles entering the toll congestion zone or using the highway. Although these highways are presently exempt from the toll per state law, concerns have emerged among motorists that the equipment could pave the way for tolls on these routes in the future.

Critics fear a potential “bait and switch” strategy, whereby the MTA could later propose expanding the congestion toll to the FDR Drive and the West Side Highway. The anonymity of a source noting the installation of detection equipment highlighted skepticism about the MTA’s intentions, stating, “You can’t trust the MTA.”

Responsibility for the decision to install sensors became a matter of passing the buck between agencies overseeing the FDR Drive. While the state Department of Transportation, responsible for FDR Drive’s maintenance, disclaimed ownership of the pedestrian walkway at 25th Street, the city Department of Transportation directed inquiries to the MTA regarding toll reading infrastructure.

Councilman Joe Borelli expressed concerns over potential legislative expansions of the congestion zone to include toll-free highways, emphasizing that past legislative decisions expanded programs like speed cameras. The congestion pricing program, approved in 2019 under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic-run Assembly and Senate, aims to generate $1 billion annually for $15 billion in MTA infrastructure upgrades.

The $15 toll proposal includes discounts for tunnel users, toll-free access for the FDR Expressway and West Side Highway, and deductions for residents within the congestion zone earning less than $60,000 annually. However, opposition from suburbanites, residents of outer boroughs, New Jersey, and unions representing municipal workers has intensified, with lawmakers objecting to the planned toll increase during re-election campaigns. The MTA contends that the license readers will serve as a verification point for vehicles remaining on excluded roadways, addressing concerns about potential tolls on currently exempt highways.

Congestion pricing in New York has become a source of intense controversy, sparking debates and opposition from various quarters. The proposed plan, scheduled to impose a $15 toll for entering Manhattan’s central business district, has faced backlash from suburbanites, residents in outer boroughs, and commuters from New Jersey. Critics argue that the toll unfairly burdens individuals who rely on cars for transportation, particularly those residing outside the congested zones.

Opposition is not limited to individual drivers; unions representing city municipal workers have also raised concerns. Lawmakers, especially those seeking re-election, have joined the chorus of dissent, highlighting the political sensitivity surrounding the congestion pricing initiative.

The controversy extends beyond financial considerations, encompassing fears of potential toll expansion to currently exempt highways. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) installation of camera equipment on New York highways has fueled suspicions of a “bait and switch” strategy, wherein the MTA might later propose tolling previously toll-free routes.

While proponents argue that the $1 billion annually generated from congestion pricing will fund much-needed $15 billion upgrades to the MTA’s subway, commuter railroads, and bus systems, the divisive nature of the toll proposal underscores the challenges in implementing measures aimed at addressing urban congestion