NYC Approves Nation’s First Congestion Pricing for Vehicles - Modern Distribution Management

NYC Approves Nation’s First Congestion Pricing for Vehicles

Driving in Manhattan is about to become much more expensive for cars and trucks.
Traffic in New York

On March 27, a majority of the Metropolitan Transit Authority board of directors voted in favor of New York City congestion pricing — a plan that will charge trucks $24 or $36 depending on their size — to enter the city’s Central Business District to the southern end of the Financial District for the vast majority of weekdays and 12 hours on weekends.

Overall, it could make last-mile delivery considerably more expensive for distributors serving customers in Manhattan.

Green-lighting the toll by a vote of 11 to 1 makes NYC the first city in the United States to approve congestion pricing. The board had already voted overwhelmingly in favor of the plan in December, while the latest vote was its final approval of clarifications and exemptions.

The initiative may go into effect following a 60-day public information campaign alongside a 30-day testing period. The MTA said that nearly all 110 toll readers are already installed, which could position the authority to begin collecting as early as June 15.

How Does it Work?

Image courtesy of Metro Transit Authority

The MTA’s congestion pricing will levy a toll on any driver entering the city’s Central Business District stretching from 60th street in Manhattan and below to the southern tip of the Financial District. So, most drivers entering midtown Manhattan or below will have to pay the toll. For the toll initiative, the MTA calls this the “Congestion Relief Zone.”

The daytime ‘peak period’ toll will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET each weekday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The MTA board called for overnight hours rates (9 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekends) to be far less.

All drivers of cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles — unless exempt — will be charged the toll, though in different amounts depending on the type of vehicle. Here’s how it breaks down:

  • Passenger vehicles & small commercial vehicles (sedans, SUVs, pick-up trucks and small vans: $15 during peak period/$3.75 overnight. They will be charged only once per day, meaning a driver could enter the zone, leave it and return in the same day and be charged once.
  • Small trucks and buses: $24 during peak period/$6 overnight
  • Large trucks and buses: $36 during peak period/$9 overnight
  • Motorcycles: $7.50 during peak period/$1.75 overnight

Taxis and ride app vehicles: Drivers will not be charged, but passengers will be charged a per-trip toll of $2.50 per trip if they enter the zone. For taxis, green cabs and black cars, the toll is $1.25 per trip.

Some vehicles — primarily government vehicles — will be exempt from the toll.

National news reports note that lawsuits against the congestion pricing plan are being heard in federal courts in both New York and New Jersey that could delay its implementation, though the MTA doesn’t expect that to happen.

Other notes

  • Drivers who have less than $50,000 in annual income can apply for a discount
  • Drivers who enter from the Lincoln, Holland, Battery and Queens-Midtown tunnels can receive a credit since they’re already paying a toll on those entrances

NYC’s official website states that the congestion pricing program will:

  • Reduce traffic and travel time – with 100,000 fewer vehicles entering the zone daily. The MTA notes that 700,000 vehicles enter the zone every weekday.
  • Lead to safer streets and cleaner air
  • Reduce emissions
  • Improve quality of life

Find much more detail about NYC’s congestion pricing and how it works at https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/ 

Related Posts

Share this article

About the Author
Recommended Reading
Leave a Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign Up for the MDM Update Newsletter

The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry.

2

articles left

Want more Premium content from MDM?

Subscribe today and get:

  • New issues twice each month
  • Unlimited access to mdm.com, including 10+ years of archived data
  • Current trends analysis, market data and economic updates
  • Discounts on select store products and events

Subscribe to continue reading

MDM Premium Subscribers get:

  • Unlimited access to MDM.com
  • 1 year digital subscription, with new issues twice a month
  • Trends analysis, market data and quarterly economic updates
  • Deals on select store products and events

1

article
left

You have one free article remaining

Subscribe to MDM Premium to get unlimited access. Your subscription includes:

  • Two new issues a month
  • Access to 10+ years of archived data on mdm.com
  • Quarterly economic updates, trends analysis and market data
  • Store and event discounts

To continue reading, you must be an MDM Premium subscriber.

Join other distribution executives who use MDM Premium to optimize their business. Our insights and analysis help you enter the right new markets, turbocharge your sales and marketing efforts, identify business partners that help you scale, and stay ahead of your competitors.

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!