A Congestion Toll New York Can Live With
By Charles Komanoff & Gernot Wagner
A vast number of toll combinations can satisfy the legislative mandate that New York’s congestion pricing program generate sufficient revenue to bond $15 billion worth of MTA capital improvements.
One specific combination appears to fulfill that requirement in a particularly fair and efficient way. We call it “15/9/3.” This paper seeks to demystify this toll arrangement and explain why we believe congestion pricing in New York should adhere to it.
What does 15/9/3 denote?
It’s shorthand for the dollars we propose to charge private cars to enter the congestion zone: $15 at peak times, which comprise weekdays, 6 am – 8 pm; $9 during “shoulder” hours, comprising weekends and holidays, noon – 10 pm; and $3 off-peak, comprising all other hours: weekdays, 8 pm – 6 am and weekends and holidays, 10 pm – noon. (Exemptions for tunnels to Manhattan, which are already tolled, are noted directly below.)
We also propose a rise of $2.25 from the current $2.75 customer surcharge for Uber trips that touch the congestion zone.
Full report: "A Congestion Toll New York Can Live With" (PDF)
Related:
Komanoff, Charles and Gernot Wagner, "There’s Only One Way to Fix New York’s Traffic Gridlock," New York Times op-ed (8 June 2023).
