Here’s how to get discounts on the new $9 toll to enter Lower Manhattan

Before New York City’s congestion pricing plan begins Jan. 5, which imposes a $9 fee on drivers entering Lower Manhattan, there will be eight one-hour public webinars explaining to drivers how to apply for certain discount programs can, which MTA Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber said will take place in December.

The sessions will take place from December 4th to 19th. They include a question-and-answer session and are translated into Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole and Korean.

Members of the public must register for the webinar to view and participate in real time. The webinar will not be broadcast live on the MTA’s YouTube channel; However, a recorded video of the webinar will be available on YouTube.

Last week, federal officials approved the new fare structure that New York City’s MTA board approved on Nov. 18, clearing the way for a Jan. 5 start date. This fare structure reduced the base toll from $15 to $9 and gradually increased to the full $15 toll by 2031.

Congestion pricing aims to reduce traffic, accidents and air pollution and raise $1 billion annually for subway, bus and commuter rail projects by providing access to Manhattan’s central business district south of 60th Street a fee is charged.

What discounts are offered?

The first is the simplest. This is the automatic $3 toll credit deducted from the congestion fee for drivers entering Manhattan through the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. Drivers using the George Washington Bridge will not receive a toll credit.

The more complicated discounts require two things: an E-ZPass issued by a New York State toll plaza and approval of an application that can be submitted on the MTA website.

The Individual Disability Exemption Plan addresses concerns raised at numerous public hearings about the costs of people needing medical treatment at facilities in the surge zone.

This discount can cover a patient or caregiver providing transportation.

Three things are required: applying for a New York E-ZPass, completing an online application, and scheduling an appointment at an assessment center. Once a person is determined to be eligible, they will request an exemption for their vehicle or a caregiver’s vehicle.

A special webinar on individual disability exemption will take place on Wednesday, December 4th at 3:00 p.m.

New York and New Jersey residents receive a low-income discount. This offers a 50% discount that applies after the first 10 trips in a calendar month and applies to all rush hour trips thereafter.

To qualify, vehicle owners must have reported federal adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less for the previous calendar year or be enrolled in a qualified federal assistance program and complete and submit an online application.

Individuals must either provide an IRS Form 1040 or tax return log and corresponding W-2 forms from the most recent tax year or enroll in a government assistance program. You must also have an E-Zpass issued in New York.

A webinar on the low-income discount plan will take place on Thursday, December 5th at 2:00 p.m.

Commuter buses and vans can also be exempt from the congestion charge if they meet the requirements and apply for this reduction.

These buses must have fixed routes and be open to the public. The program also includes minibuses. Coaches and charter buses are excluded from this exemption.

A business E-ZPass issued in New York is required and the waiver can be requested on the New York E-ZPass website.

Lawsuits still need to be resolved

Indications that a long-awaited decision in a federal lawsuit brought by New Jersey and Fort Lee could be made by U.S. International Trade Court Chief Judge Leo M. Gordon came after he called a conference in Newark on Tuesday.

In April, Gordon heard oral arguments in the lawsuit challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s June 2023 approval that allowed congestion pricing to continue.

“It was very constructive and I believe that as a result of this conference the court will consider all of the current facts,” said attorney Bruce Nagel of Nagel & Weiss, who represents Fort Lee. “I hope a statement will be made in the near future.”

The conference was called after Nagel, attorney Randy Mastro, who represented New Jersey, and an attorney for the Federal Highway Administration separately wrote to Judge Gordon requesting that he issue an opinion in the case.

On Wednesday, Gordon signed an order directing the Federal Highway Administration to submit “all considerations, determinations and findings” following the June 2023 approval by Dec. 3, court papers said.

Two other lawsuits filed in New York seeking to stop congestion pricing have not gone to trial. One such case, brought by Hempstead in Long Island and Orange and Rockland counties, is scheduled for a Dec. 20 hearing; The other was brought by the Trucking Association of New York, NY1 reported.