Civil servants such as NYPD officers, firefighters and teachers are on the hook for congestion pricing’s $15 base fare just like all other drivers, a key MTA report obtained by Gothamist reveals.
The report prepared by the Traffic Mobility Review Board will be detailed at a press conference Thursday morning. The TMRB is tasked with recommending the toll structure to the MTA board.
The report shows that none of the 122 groups who requested exemptions – including civil servants who drive private vehicles to work – got a waiver from the tolls to enter the so-called Central Business District. The recommended base fare for drivers entering the tolling zone south of 60th Street in Manhattan is $15 between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
“The TMRB has been guided by its goal of keeping overall toll rates low by limiting the number of discounts and exemptions,” the report noted. “Indeed, every discount or exemption for the few increases the toll rates for the many. In addition, discounts reduce – and exemptions eliminate – the incentive for drivers to change their travel patterns and avoid adding congestion to the [Central Business District].”
Mayor Eric Adams described the proposed $15 toll as “the beginning of the conversation” at a press conference Thursday morning. He said he saw a distinction between people “driving into the city for luxury purposes” and people driving into the city for medical treatment.
“We don’t want to overburden working class New Yorkers,” he said. “But those who are just driving for convenience, whatever the price is, they need to pay that price.”
The report does not indicate an exemption for those driving to medical appointments.
The report shows that drivers entering the congestion pricing zone via the Manhattan tunnels do get some toll credits.
Drivers who enter the zone via the Holland, Lincoln, Brooklyn-Battery or Queens-Midtown tunnels will get a $5 credit toward the congestion…
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