© Mark Vergari/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
Syndication: Westchester County Journal News
NEW YORK (77WABC) — The first of six public hearings on New York City’s congestion pricing plan was held Thursday night and livestreamed via the MTA website, with representatives to field questions and comments.
Nearly 400 people signed up to speak at the first hearing and comes just one day after cab drivers protested outside the Governor’s office in Midtown. The new congestion pricing program would create tolls for driving below 60th Street in Manhattan.
The idea of congestion pricing is to create some $1 billion to help save buses, subways and commuter rail lines — but many drivers say they should not have to carry the burden.
Taxi drivers say the congestion pricing plan imposing surcharges of as much as 23-dollars below 60th Street will drive them out of business. The MTA says the plan could generate 15-billion-dollars to upgrade and improve mass transit. But cabbies are calling it a money grab and are demanding to be exempt.
Customers who don’t have E-Z Pass could pay up to $34.50 more per day for driving into the area.
