New York City’s congestion pricing program is moving forward with a $15 fee on passenger vehicles, reports Stephen Nessen in Gothamist, after the MTA board voted to approve it. The program now enters a 60-day public comment period before a final vote.

Nessen points out that “The stakes are high for the program. Congestion pricing has been successfully implemented in other countries. But the MTA’s program represents the first effort in the United States to impose a fee to reduce gridlock.” Additionally, “The tolls are required by law to back $15 billion worth of loans, which accounts for nearly a third of the MTA’s 2020-2024 construction program.”

The program includes exemptions and fare discounts for low-income drivers, emergency vehicles, and drivers who already pay certain tolls. “Small trucks, buses and vans face a $24 charge during those hours, while large trucks, including big rigs, will have to pay $36. Motorcycles will be tolled a $7.50 daytime fee.” The fee is reduced by 75 percent during nighttime hours.

    • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
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      1511 months ago

      The last time I was in NYC I was awoken by some asshole running his motorcycle up and down sixth avenue at five in the goddamn morning. And I was on the 14th floor of a hotel.

      The fact that they weren’t drawn and quartered in the street shows what a lawless place NYC is.

      • @RubberElectrons
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        -2511 months ago

        It’s cuz most of us aren’t thin skinned piss-babies. Bit of noise in a very loud city, shut the fuck up and deal.

          • @RubberElectrons
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            11 months ago

            It’s the only place I know where people have argued with each other on how to best help a tourist out.

            Look, this is a city where you have wealthy business owners and blue collar folk living across the street from one another, literary geniuses and creatives living next door to programmers and engineers… the people who live and thrive here are makers and doers, in every avenue of human adventure we can yet think of.

            That a bit of noise is all it takes to get you to miss how wonderfully unique this situation is, of all walks of life talking, reading, eating and living with each other, is a damning indictment of how tough you actually are, and how much you bring to the table.

            Can’t handle it? Wahh.

            E: Each downvote on this comment is an admission that you, the downvoter, are similarly rigid. Prove me wrong.

              • @RubberElectrons
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                11 months ago

                Certainly better than the alternative. Take care now! 🤭

                  • @RubberElectrons
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                    11 months ago

                    Nah man, I absolutely don’t think that’s the case, not is that the case for any fellow city folk. My previous post should have made that real clear. We got all walks of life walking and talking, and a lot of us travel too. We see what we have, and what’s out there as well.

                    One thing you won’t see me doing is talking shit on other people’s home towns, because that’s low class and low quality thinking. I don’t particularly like small towns or suburbs for social reasons, some people do. That’s ok.

                    Wake up, do something interesting for a change.

    • NoIWontPickaName
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      111 months ago

      Nah man, loud pipes and rev slamming save lives.

      Way more than the protective equipment that they don’t wear.

    • @RubberElectrons
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      -711 months ago

      Aww, someone’s mad they got stuck in traffic while the bike carefully rolled past. Aww 🤭

      • @AtariDump
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        11 months ago

        “Carefully rolled past”

        More like lane split 20+ mph more than traffic was going in an unsafe manor.

        • @RubberElectrons
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          11 months ago

          Some morons like to gamble, most of us don’t because of how low (aka zero) reward is vs risk.

          But you’ll always remember the people in life making the insane choices vs the regular folk.

          • @AtariDump
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            11 months ago

            I absolutely remember how many motorcycles lane spilt safely.

            Zero.

            And that’s before we talk about the crotch rockets that pass me going 90+ weaving in and out of traffic.

            Your vehicle doesn’t make you special; wait in traffic like the rest of the motor vehicles on the road.

              • @AtariDump
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                11 months ago

                Your vehicle doesn’t make you special; wait in traffic like the rest of the motor vehicles on the road.

                You’d be PISSED if you were in line at the grocery store with a full cart of groceries and someone with 5 items “filtered” around you without your consent because they’ll be faster.

                • @RubberElectrons
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                  011 months ago

                  Faulty logic appears to be a forte.

                  Why should I wait? Do you know what an air cooled engine is? I incur more risk in driving specifically for the benefits of agility and compactness.

                  I’m sorry that my ability to go past you makes you upset, but again, I’m exposing myself to significantly more danger specifically for the benefits including the ability to not be stopped by the car in front of me, much higher mpgs, lower cost of ownership, etc.

                  Do you get mad at bicycles because they don’t operate the same as cars? I pass you in the bike lane all the time on my bicycle.

                  • @AtariDump
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                    011 months ago

                    Your vehicle doesn’t make you special; wait in traffic like the rest of the motor vehicles on the road.