The Cost of Congestion Pricing

MetroFocus: The Podcast

New York City is getting ready to implement congestion pricing starting next spring. MTA Chair Janno Lieber recently announced that the transit authority is on track to begin tolling drivers coming into Manhattan below 61th Street in May 2024. What's still not clear is how much the toll will cost, but it’s estimated it could be anywhere from $9 to $23 per trip. Also not clear is who would be exempt from paying the toll and by how much. Tonight, we discuss the future of congestion pricing and address the concerns that many New Yorkers still have about the existing plan. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella believes that Staten Islanders will bear the burden of congestion pricing in NYC, in terms of cost, traffic and pollution. New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams lays out the reasons he supports the policy, while acknowledging the concerns of working class New Yorkers and communities of color. And, journalist Ben Max lays out the details of the plan as it stands.