New York City

Plan to Toll Drivers in Manhattan Sparks Heated Debate

What to Know

  • Driving a car into the busiest parts of Manhattan could cost more than $11 under a new proposal
  • The proposal is designed to ease traffic congestion on city streets; the pricing zone would cover Manhattan south of 60th Street
  • The idea, "congestion pricing," involves using electronic tolling to charge vehicles for entering certain parts of town during busy times

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says one way to help update New York City’s aging subway system is through congesting pricing – but not all lawmakers agree.

Queens Assemblyman David Weprin and other elected officials gathered Sunday to oppose the plan that would toll drivers in the busiest parts of Manhattan and use that money to fix the subway. He said for many residents in his borough there just isn’t a subway option to take and to charge them even more to get into the city would be a financial hardship.

“There are many, many proposals, there are many ways to fix it. But a way to do it is not on the backs of middle-class New Yorkers, mostly from Queens and Brooklyn and even the suburbs,” Weprin said.

Angry subway and bus riders affiliated with the Riders Alliance showed up to the rally Sunday for a demonstration of their own. They say those who oppose congestion pricing aren’t responding to the needs of the middle class but supporting the view who can afford to commute by private car.

The idea of congestion pricing involves using electronic tolling to charge vehicles for entering certain parts of town during especially busy times.

London and Singapore already have similar charges in place. Supporters of the idea say it could not only address gridlock, but also raise money for mass transit. Skeptics, including Mayor de Blasio, worry the tolls could be a burden, especially to commuters.

Pedro Minaya is a truck driver who delivers seafood from the Bronx. He and other critics say the idea is not fair.

"My company is a small company," Minaya said. "It's a business where they're trying to survive."

Pizza shop manager Mohammed Hammouda figures he'll get hit twice: for the delivery of ingredients and then to drive his own car across the Queensboro Bridge. "Every single day I drive the 59th Street bridge. It is not right to charge us $11.52 just because we live in New York City," Hammouda said. 

Under the proposal, trucks entering the busiest parts of Manhattan would pay $25.34, and taxis and for-hire vehicles could see surcharges of $2 to $5 per ride. The pricing zone would cover Manhattan south of 60th Street. Drivers wouldn't get charged twice if they already pay a toll; that toll would be deducted from the $11.52 surcharge.

The plan is part of a report by a task force that was brought together by Cuomo after he declared a state of emergency in the subways last year.

Fees on taxis and for-hire vehicles could take effect within a year, followed by trucks and then cars in 2020. The task force said that none of the fees should be charged until mass transit repairs are made.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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