Stop NYC Congestion Tax

On Thursday, January 31, the New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission voted 13-2 to recommend a modified congestion tax scheme to the City and State for adoption.

Highlights of this tax plan include:

• the $8 a day tax for cars/$21 a day for trucks driving south of 60th Street
• a charge for travel on both local streets and passing through on peripheral routes like the FDR Drive and the West Side Highway
• Taxi/car service surcharges
• Removal of the resident parking tax exemption for lots within the Tax Zone
• And more which you can read about here.

Funds would not go to a new SMART Financing Authority to be allocated for specific mass transit projects, as the Mayor originally proposed, but would be directed straight to the MTA’s Capital Plan and the City’s Department of Transportation. In essence, this means that this enormous tax hike will pour funds into the same agencies that provide transportation services now–for better, or probably worse.

It now must be considered by the City Council and the State Legislature before March 31 if congestion taxes are to be imposed.