In an industry notice, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) confirmed that the MTA will begin tolling vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone “as part of the Central Business District Tolling Program” on June 30. The Congestion Relief Zone is the area of Manhattan south of and including 60th Street, excluding the FDR Drive, West Side Highway/Route 9A, and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street.

The toll rate schedule approved by the MTA Board specifies that taxis and for-hire vehicles (FHVs) are eligible for a per-trip charge to be paid by the passenger for each trip to, from, within, or through the Congestion Relief Zone. Under the plan, the charge for trips dispatched by high-volume for-hire services (currently Lyft and Uber) will be $2.50 per trip; the charge for taxis, street hail liveries (SHLs), and trips dispatched by other FHV bases (black car, livery, and luxury limousine bases) will be $1.25 per trip. For taxis and SHLs, the per-trip charge must be added to the meter. Under this per-trip charge plan, taxis, SHLs, and FHVs would not be charged unless the vehicle is on a trip.

FHV bases must enter into an agreement with the MTA to collect and remit the per-trip charge in order for the per-trip charge to apply to trips dispatched by that base. Similarly, technology system providers (TSPs) must agree to collect and remit the per-trip charge in order for the per-trip charge to apply to trips completed in vehicles that are equipped with that TSP’s technology system.

FHVs dispatched by a base that has not entered into the agreement, as well as taxis and SHLs utilizing a TSP that has not entered into the agreement, may be charged a $15 toll up to once per day paid by the vehicle owner, instead of the per-trip charge paid by the passenger, for entering the Congestion Relief Zone.

TLC-licensed commuter vans are eligible for an exemption from the toll under the Commuter Bus Exemption Plan. More information about that exemption, including the application, is available at: https://new.mta.info/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/discounts-exemptions/commuter-bus.

More info about Congestion Pricing is available at congestionreliefzone.mta.info and more information about the taxi and FHV tolling policy can be found at https://new.mta.info/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/taxi-fhv-tolls. Further questions can be directed to: CRZtaxifhv-support@mta.info.

Article by Black Car News

Black Car News provides breaking news, editorial, and information to drivers, owners, and other key players in the New York City for-hire vehicle industry.

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