Manhattanites Not Exempt Under Congestion Pricing Plan

"We're not trying to get people to leave the zone in their cars," said Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff, who played a leading role in fashioning the plan. "Overall what we're trying to do is get people to use their cars less."

"The plan, which requires approval from the Legislature, would use mounted cameras and an E-ZPass system to record cars as they travel in, out, and within the congestion zone. The fees would be in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fee would be levied only once a day per vehicle; in other words, a person who drives into Manhattan and back out on the same day would be charged only once.

Drivers whose trips start in the zone and do not leave it would pay only a $4 fee, as in the case of an Upper East Side resident who drives to a job on Wall Street, or a TriBeCa resident who drives to an Upper West Side doctor's appointment.

But under the plan, if those same people drive north of 86th Street, or to New Jersey, Queens or Brooklyn, the $4 fee rises to $8. Drivers with E-ZPass would get credit for any bridge or tunnel tolls.

Trucks would also be charged $21 to enter or leave the zone, or $5.50 to travel within it.

The mayor's plan is modeled on London's successful congestion pricing plan, but London is more lenient on those who live inside the zone and use their cars, offering them a 90 percent discount on the congestion fee. That was possible in part because when London began the plan, it was limited to an area in the city's business district, where there were relatively few residents.

Mayor Bloomberg is hoping the State Legislature approves the plan in July, in time for the city to obtain financial support from the federal Department of Transportation, which has earmarked more than $1 billion to help cities fight congestion."

[Ed: See related link - editorial urging support from legislature.].

Thanks to Mark Boshnack