NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Nearly three weeks before congestion pricing goes into effect across New York City, the MTA announced on Tuesday that it will hold public webinars throughout June.
A total of six public webinars will be held to explain the facts and features of the Congestion Relief Zone. The webinars will cover how the zone works, the program's benefits to the region, available discounts and exemptions, and essential information before tolling begins.
Congestion pricing, officially called the Central Business Tolling Program, is expected to go into place on June 30 and will charge most drivers at least $15 daily to enter Manhattan below 60th Street during the daytime. Exemptions have been established for emergency vehicles, specialized city vehicles, buses, vehicles carrying disabled people and certain low-income commuters.
Each session will be 60-minute webinars and will feature a 30-minute presentation on the Congestion Relief Zone and ending with a Q&A session.
Gridlock Sam Schwartz, a transportation engineer and former Chief Engineer/First Deputy Commissioner at the DOT, joined Newsline with Brigitte Quinn to discuss the plan and different routes drivers can use to avoid the tolls.
Schwartz said drivers can use the upper level, which is designated for cars only, as it allows entry into Manhattan without incurring the toll. “You can come into the area because your tire touches down at 62nd Street. So take the upper level.”
However, he cautioned drivers leaving Manhattan to avoid the Queensboro Bridge to prevent a $15 charge, even if only traveling a short distance south of 60th Street. Instead, he recommended taking the RFK Bridge, which, while costing nearly $7, still saves $8 compared to the congestion toll.
Schwartz also explained workarounds for those using the Brooklyn Bridge. Drivers can avoid the toll if they take the bridge northbound and exit at 61st Street. “There is a direct ramp to the northbound roadway,” he said. “You're not gonna get charged unless you get off south of 60th Street, say at 34th Street. But if you stay on, there's an exit at 61st; you can get off at 61st, no charge.”
For drivers willing to take a risk, Schwartz suggested taking the northbound ramp to Houston Street on the FDR Drive and then continuing southbound. “Hopefully, there are no detectors there, and then you're on the southbound roadway, and your tire never really touched a city street. I don't know if they'll try to close that loophole, but right now it looks like it's good.”
There seems to be no way to avoid the tolls for New Jersey commuters, noting they face a slightly reduced congestion charge of $10 instead of $15.
When asked if the MTA might close these loopholes, Schwartz said “I think they'll make changes but I don't think it'll be before it takes effect because there’s so many court cases right now and nobody wants to go in and say, ‘Oh, yeah, we made a mistake in this area. We want to fix it.’ The judge will probably hold it up. So, I think these are changes that you'll see after some settle-in period, say six months. I fully expect them to solve the problems at the Queensboro Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, but we’ll see as time goes on.”
The six public webinars will take place:
Wednesday, June 5: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday, June 6: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Monday, June 10: 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday, June 14: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Tuesday June 18: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Tuesday June 18: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Participants must register online prior to the start of the session(s) they wish to attend and can submit questions prior to attending the session.