Congestion Pricing Update

Congestion Pricing, AKA the Central Business District (CBD) Tolling Program, has been in the headlines a lot lately and is on the top of everyone’s minds. With the boundary line at 60th Street, we thought the time was right to provide an update with information from the MTA.

The CBD Tolling Program will be the first congestion pricing program in the United States. The objectives of the program are to reduce driving in the CBD, which includes everything below 60th Street, and create a funding source for capital improvements and projects for the MTA. The program received Federal environmental approval in June 2023 and is supposed to go live in May 2024. We’ll be watching this closely and continue to provide updates.

Detection Point Poles have already started popping up in New York City, including in Lincoln Square. Pole installation started last week, and the first one up in our neighborhood is at 1832 Broadway, between 60th and 61st Street. According to this MTA PowerPoint, which is full of information on the program, other future locations in Lincoln Square include 113 West 60th Street, 4 Central Park West, and 1841 Broadway. Within Community Board 7, workers will install several poles between 61st and 60th Street from July through November. Installation of all poles throughout the City should be complete by December. The first schedule of construction, which began last week, is available in this MTA Construction Bulletin.

Here’s how the installation of the poles will affect the area, according to the MTA PowerPoint:

•        Parking will be restricted one to two car lengths on either side of Detection Point Poles
•        Work will generally occur during the day for excavation and construction of foundations  
•        Detection point pole installation will occur at night
•        Duration of work will generally be one to two weeks per site

The Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB), a six-member panel that will recommend the tolling price structure for congestion pricing, held a Board meeting on Wednesday, July 19, with members of the MTA to receive guidance and clarity as they develop their recommendations for the congestion pricing program. The TMRB will determine the pricing rates and potential discounts for vehicles. You can watch a recording of the meeting here. 

You can find out more about the CBD Tolling Program on the MTA website. Construction-related concerns can be emailed directly to the MTA at CBDTPConstruction@mtabt.org or by phone at their new hotline, 877-201-4015.