Kicking cars out of cities and giving more space to pedestrians or alternative mobility, and thus reducing pollution: this is the direction that many European cities are taking. The ZBEs of Madrid or Barcelona are a good example. Also Paris, which now charges much more to park larger cars on its streets.
This is not the case in the US, a paradise for private transportation and where there is a lot of dependence on the car. Even in cities with a good public transport network such as New York. Until now: This immense capital is going to charge cars an urban toll to access its busiest area. This includes taxis and VTC cars. They want to have it ready before Donald Trump is inaugurated.
From $15 to $9 a day
The call traffic congestion toll in New York City, which has been on the table for years, was announced in April, but was stopped indefinitely in June because it was a rather unpopular measure. It already is in Europe, so even more so if we talk about the American mentality. Obviously he has many many voices against him, among them of course Donald Trump: “I will finish him the first week back in office,” promised in campaign.
Now, the main promoters of this measure have redefined itlowering the price of these tolls and adding some exceptions and bonuses. They are working at full speed to approve it this week and have it go into effect before Trump takes office. The January 5, 2025 so that they start charging for circulation.
For cars, but also more expensive trips by taxi and VTC. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York and Governor Kathy Hochul, belonging to the Democratic Party, are the ones who are promoting this urban toll. In fact, it was approved in spring and was going to be applied from June 30, although it was finally discontinued.
The plan was to charge 15 euros a day for cars that access and circulate in the Financial District, southern Manhattan. It includes quite busy and touristy neighborhoods such as the theater district, Times Square, Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea o el SoHo. The new proposed rates are now lower, but it is still a daily rate that can cost drivers thousands of dollars each year.
Hochul proposes a toll of up to 9 dollars for cars and half (4.50 dollars) for motorcycles. Vans and small trucks must pay $14.40 and large trucks, as well as tourist buses, $21.60. Taxis and VTC cars are not spared either: per ride they must pay 75 cents and $1.50 respectively. Which will mean more expensive trips for its users. In NYC, taxis and VTC are the most popular means of transportation.
All are the maximum rate and will be applied in periods of maximum congestion. but this iIt includes practically the entire day: Monday to Friday between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.. Outside of those hours, cars would pay $2.25, motorcycles $1.05 and vans $3.60.
The redefined plan also includes bonuses and exceptions. For example, emergency vehicles and those adapted for people with reduced mobility would never pay this toll. Low-income residents or drivers would also get discounts. Or those who access the area from tunnels and bridges where tolls are already charged.
To say that the system is actually already ready: there are cameras at access points to this district, which will control access. It will be charged electronically with the E-ZPass system. Anyone who does not have this electronic tolling device will have to pay higher rates.
Trump could overturn the measure even if it is already active. Hochul halted its application in June because “A $15 toll was too high in this economic climate.” The solution has been to reduce the rates, but even so they can cost more than 2,000 euros a year for those who use the car to travel there daily.
The objective is that the proceeds from these tolls be reinvested in improving New York’s public transportation (lines, infrastructure, vehicles…), and so that more users use it. It is estimated that it will mean 15 billion dollars for the coffers of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Meanwhile, it will also help reduce pollution in the city.
Nevertheless, The measure has many opponents. Among them the Democrat Philip D. Murphy, governor of New Jersey. Unions and New York City officials also do not see it favorably. In total, as detailed by The New York Timesnine lawsuits have been filed against this pricing system, including one from the truckers association of this city.
And it not only affects citizens, but also businesses, transporters, the VTC themselves and taxi drivers… “Manhattan seeks businesses, not kills them!” was Trump’s argument to banish these urban tolls.
This same week, five New York Republicans in the House of Representatives have asked Trump to knock down these rates for circulating. Work is underway at full speed to implement the measure before the newly re-elected president takes office, which will be at the end of January.
Even if it is imposed earlier, it could be overturned, for example, by withholding funding at the federal level or withdrawing approval. In any case, it would mean a legal battle as has happened in Spanish cities: both in Madrid and Barcelona precisely because of their ZBEs. Urban tolls have been considered many times to also be applied in Spain.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
