What expect from NYC congestion pricing
NEW YORK (PIX11) — New York City’s congestion pricing plan will soon go into effect, meaning many questions need to be answered. One of the most asked questions is whether there will be exemptions and how to qualify.
Commuters weigh in on congestion pricing on final day of public hearings
What is congestion pricing?
Congestion pricing would add a toll for vehicles driving into Manhattan’s Central Business District south of 60th Street in Manhattan.
The toll zone excludes the Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Drive, the West Side Highway/West Street (Route 9A), and any surface roadway portion of the Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel connecting to West Street. Vehicles that remain only on those excluded roadways and do not enter the Program area will not be tolled. However, if a vehicle moves from one of those roadways onto a street within the zone – for example, if it takes the FDR Drive offramp onto South Street, or exits the Carey Tunnel going towards Trinity Place – then it will be required to pay the toll unless it is exempt.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Who is exempt from congestion pricing?
Many New Yorkers have been sounding off on exemptions from having to pay the toll. However, the MTA is limiting the amount of exemptions to the following:
Qualifying authorized emergency vehicles
Qualifying vehicles transporting people with disabilities.
Specialized government vehicles designed to perform public works for their agency’s purpose, and not used for general transportation of people or general deliveries.
Qualifying authorized school buses contracted with the NYC Department of Education (whether they are serving public or independent schools), commuter vans licensed with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, and buses providing scheduled commuter services open to the public.
How do I qualify for disability exemption?
The MTA said that public and private organizations like Access-A-Ride will be able to apply for the Organizational Disability Exemption Plan. Individuals will also be allowed to apply for these exemptions “for a vehicle they are registered to own or a vehicle they designate, such as that registered to a family member or caregiver.”
The MTA said they are currently looking at what other programs would qualify for this exemption.
No official application process has been announced as of yet.
Am I exempted if I live in the CBD?
No. There will be no exemption for those who live in the toll zone. However, residents in the zone who have a state-adjusted gross income of under $60,000 will be eligible for a state tax credit for any congestion pricing tolls paid, according to the MTA.
What about New Yorkers with low incomes?
For people with low income, the Low-Income Discount Program would let those using an eligible vehicle get a 50% discount from peak toll rates on their 11th trip in a month.
The MTA said the following must apply to qualify:
The registered owner’s Federal adjusted gross income reported on last year’s income tax return was $50,000 or less
The registered owner is enrolled in a qualifying government-provided income-based program, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Are there medical exemptions?
No. The MTA said regardless of the trip, you must pay the toll unless you are in an exempt vehicle. According to the MTA, many programs offer free or discounted travel for medical reasons.
The MTA said you could use the tolls as tax deductions:
If you think that payment of CBDTP tolls will meet or exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may wish to consult with a tax expert to see if you can deduct them from your next tax return.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
You can see the proposed toll fares here:
Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City and Washington D.C. areas. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
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