Eric Adams calls on transport bosses to make EXEMPTIONS for proposed $15 per car congestion charge to enter Manhattan - as NYC mayor says only those on 'luxury visits' should pay

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called on the MTA to make exemptions for the proposed $15 per car congestion charge to enter Manhattan, stating that only those on 'luxury visits' should pay. 

Mayor Adams suggested expanding exemptions for people seeking medical treatments on Thursday after the release of congestion pricing plan, which could see drivers slapped with extra fees of up to $36.

'I think that anyone that's driving into the city for luxury purposes or convenience, they need to pay whatever the price is,' he said during a Thursday morning press conference.  

'Those who are there for necessities such as a medical treatment that is mandatory by a certain professional, we need to take that into account.'  

Carl Weisbrod, the Chair of the board, said they had considered such a proposal but deemed its implementation difficult.

'I can only say that what we tried to do was recognize the public benefits from this program — and they are significant — and they are things that people care about: Pollution, congestion, a high-quality transit system,' Weisbrod said. 

Under the proposed plan, drivers of cars, SUVs and pickup trucks will be charged $15 a day to enter Manhattan below 60th Street.

Small trucks will be charged $24 and commercial truck drivers will pay a $36 toll. Motorcycles will face a $7.50 fee.

Taxi drivers, who largely opposed congestion pricing, will add $1.25 to their fares and ride share app drivers, like Uber and Lyft, $2.50 per ride.

'I think the $15 proposal is the beginning of the conversation,' Adams said. 'Now it's time to hear from the community to deliberate and to make the determination of who is going to be exempt who's not going to be exempt.'

He also proposed discounts for city-owned cars, electric trucks and 'credits so that drivers aren't incentivized to lengthen their trips.'

Mayor Adams said Thursday: 'We don't want to overburden working class New Yorkers, but those who are just driving for convenience of whatever the price is, they need to pay that price.'

'We have one in the best transportation systems, I believe, on the globe, particularly in Manhattan where we have crosstown transportation service, up downtown transportation service. 

'I use the public transportation system. And so those who are using it for convenience or luxury, I think whatever the price is, they have to pay that price.'

The Traffic Mobility Review Board, part of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), included some exemptions and discount prices in their plan.

During the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weekdays and between 9 p.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends, tolls will be slashed by 75 percent and cars will only have to pay $3.75.

Drivers can get a $5 credit to use for the congestion toll when they enter the zone using any of the normally-tolled tunnels -  the Queens-Midtown, Hugh L. Carey, Holland and Lincoln Tunnels.

Transit and commuter buses will be exempt from the toll. Tour and coach buses that do not operate on a fixed route will be tolled as trucks.

The board also proposed a 50 percent discount for low-income drivers after they have made more than 10 trips in a month.

Next up is for the MTA board to vote on the proposal and they could make changes to the plan.

The tolls would generate $1 billion for the MTA - which is facing funding cuts after Adams slashed budgets across all departments to pay for the city's migrant crisis.

In June, the Federal Highway Administration officially green-lit the plan and the Biden administration gave their seal of approval back in May. 

However, New Jersey lawmakers sued the federal government in July for letting New York move forward with it.

'After refusing to conduct a full environmental review of the MTA's poorly designed tolling program, the FHWA has unlawfully fast-tracked the agency's attempt to line its own coffers at the expense of New Jersey families,' said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

'The costs of standing idly by while the MTA uses New Jersey residents to help balance its budget sheets are more than economic. 

'At the MTA's own admission, its tolling program would divert traffic and shift pollution to many vulnerable New Jersey communities, impacting air quality while offering nothing to mitigate such considerable harm.'