NEW YORK (AP) – New York country’s foreground Charging a hefty toll on drivers entering much of congested Manhattan is the focus of a legal battle playing out in federal court on Friday.
A Manhattan judge is hearing arguments in a series of lawsuits filed by unionized public school teachers, local Republican officials and other New Yorkers seeking to stop the plan.
Most private car drivers, locals and tourists, heading into Manhattan south of Central Park should expect to pay about $15 during the day, with higher tolls for larger vehicles and lower fees for motorcycles and nighttime entrances. in the city, according to the proposal finished in March. Those not enrolled in a regional toll collection program will pay $22.50.
The lawsuits argue that the toll scheme was given the green light by federal transportation authorities without due scrutiny and that more comprehensive environmental studies need to be completed.
They claim the fee will lead to more congestion and pollution as drivers will take alternative routes to avoid the Manhattan toll. They say low-income and minority communities that already face poor air quality will be particularly hard hit by negative health impacts.
The lawsuits argued that drivers in other city neighborhoods and suburbs that lack adequate public transportation will suffer a disproportionate financial impact. However, small businesses in the congestion zone will face higher operating costs and fewer customers, they say.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the agency overseeing the congestion pricing plan, says it has conducted extensive environmental reviews.
It says it found no significant impacts on area communities that could not be addressed by a series of proposed mitigation efforts, such as investments in electric buses to improve air quality.
The MTA says the fee will also help reduce traffic and improve regional air quality by discouraging driving in Manhattan. And it will provide a desperately needed annual infusion of about $1 billion to the city’s subway and bus systems, which carry about 4 million passengers daily.
The agency warned that any fee delays would put vital capital improvements at risk, including plans to modernize some of the country’s busiest subway lines. The MTA has said it intends launch the rate on June 30.
Judge Lewis Liman is not expected to issue a ruling immediately after Friday’s hearing.
Many of the claims in Friday’s lawsuits echo arguments made last month during a two-day hearing in federal court in New Jersey, where New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich filed suits.
Judge Leo Gordon, who is weighing these legal challenges, said he plans to issue a written ruling before the toll takes effect.
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Follow Filipe Marcelo on twitter.com/philmarcelo.
