Manhattan Implementing new "Congestion Toll"

[bjl584]

Driving into Manhattan? That'll cost you, as new congestion toll starts Sunday

[disneysteve]

We don't go to NYC often but this toll wouldn't change our plans at all. If we're going, $9 more or less isn't going to stop us. I really wonder how many people will cancel trips over a $9 charge. Will it really make a significant dent in traffic? I tend to doubt it.

[ua_guy]

It probably is unfair. Spending an extra $9 to get somewhere probably is an unpopular idea.

What it will likely do is curb some unnecessary trips at peak times. I think there are more effective ways to help the problem including offering more flexible schedules, more remote work, a condensed work week, etc.

Is the cost of the MTA fully borne by the ridership? Or is it like here, where the state heavily subsidizes the ferry system, shifting the cost on to everyone/everything else?

[Fishindude77]

If you followed this at all in the media this congestion toll is a new thing, never had it before.
The powers to be first proposed a $12 toll and when lots of people started complaining they adopted a $9 toll, then promoted it like it was a victory for the people.

Was $0, now $9 ...... what a deal !

[disneysteve]

What it will likely do is curb some unnecessary trips at peak times.

Except they set “peak” as all day 7 days a week. The only off-peak times are late at night or early in the morning. Very few people are heading into the city at 3am.

Is the cost of the MTA fully borne by the ridership? Or is it like here, where the state heavily subsidizes the ferry system, shifting the cost on to everyone/everything else?

Are there any public transit systems that are fully self-supporting? Philadelphia definitely isn’t. It’s publicly supported.

[ua_guy]

Except they set “peak” as all day 7 days a week. The only off-peak times are late at night or early in the morning. Very few people are heading into the city at 3am.


Are there any public transit systems that are fully self-supporting? Philadelphia definitely isn’t. It’s publicly supported.

I think some transit systems do a better job of collecting a larger share of supporting revenue from ridership and investing in long-term sustainability and maintenance. The irksome part is how mass transit accumulates such a big maintenance/renewal deficit, and then the programs have to essentially rob someone else to pay for it when it needs serious work. The existing taxes and fee structures should be designed in a way to make them sustainable long term and not rely on things like newly implemented "congestion tolls" in order to pay for them, IMO. That's my single streak of red in my otherwise entirely blue painting

[james.hendrickson]

I think some transit systems do a better job of collecting a larger share of supporting revenue from ridership and investing in long-term sustainability and maintenance. The irksome part is how mass transit accumulates such a big maintenance/renewal deficit, and then the programs have to essentially rob someone else to pay for it when it needs serious work. The existing taxes and fee structures should be designed in a way to make them sustainable long term and not rely on things like newly implemented "congestion tolls" in order to pay for them, IMO. That's my single streak of red in my otherwise entirely blue painting

I'm with you 100% ua_guy. Its totally appropriate for state and local governments to be supporting these, and yes, most of them need to do a better job generating revenue.

[riverwed070707]

I need a map. Article is not clear at all to me where this actually applies - sounds like its just for midtown and not all of Manhattan?
My first thought is that is a big hit for people who commute to the city for work if they don't have easy access to the train. Second thought is that it already costs $100 to taxi from LGA to midtown, and this is just going to make the fares more ridiculous.

IDK why anyone would want to drive or park in NYC, but I understand the tax as a deterrent.

[Fishindude77]

I'm with you 100% ua_guy. Its totally appropriate for state and local governments to be supporting these, and yes, most of them need to do a better job generating revenue.

I don't think generating revenue is the issue.
As is the case with most government agencies they don't have a revenue problem, they have a spending problem.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

unfortunately public transit is "public" and they have to generate revenue somehow