MTA to vote on congestion pricing plan Wednesday
If the congestion pricing plan passes Wednesday's vote, there will be a 60-day public comment period, and then a final vote after that.
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After years of talk, congestion pricing for drivers in Manhattan could become a reality soon, with the MTA set to vote on a plan for it Wednesday.
At a rally in support of the vote Tuesday in Union Square, Gov. Kathy Hochul said "We are fighting to save our planet, we're fighting to save our kids, we're fighting for our riders, and we're fighting for the greatest city on the planet, the city of New York."
The recommended plan from the Traffic Mobility Review Board would see cars entering Manhattan south of 60th Street pay $15, trucks pay between $24 and $36, depending on their size, motorcycles paying $7.50, rideshares paying $2.50 and taxis paying $1.50 during the day.
Multiple organizations and people have pushed back on the plan - including politicians from New Jersey and Rockland County - who want exemptions for their commuters, along with taxi and school bus drivers looking for the same.
Brooklyn City Council Member Lincoln Restler argues that everyone who needs to get around Manhattan will benefit though, since "the revenue that we will generate from congestion pricing can make the interborough express a reality, can make the second avenue subway a reality, can make an accessible subway system a reality and can make the riders alliance's long-standing goal of six-minute service a reality."
That ease of transportation is something other advocates, like MTA CEO Janno Lieber have pointed to, saying it will help businesses. Advocates say will also help businesses - not hurt them. "Less congestion means less time spent sitting in traffic," said Lieber, adding "imagine if your family member was in an ambulance, sitting in traffic, idling, because of congestion."
If the congestion pricing plan passes Wednesday's vote, there will be a 60-day public comment period, and then a final vote after that.
