A coalition of 22 organizations urged legislators to reject 17 proposals that seek to exempt certain groups from congestion pricing in New York City. They argue that such exemptions would undermine the revenue necessary for vital projects, increase traffic congestion, and negatively impact air quality. The Traffic Mobility Review Board, tasked with evaluating exemptions, has followed a strict protocol to ensure fairness and limit toll exemptions, highlighting the importance of protecting taxpayer interests. Economic data suggests that granting exemptions could lead to significant annual costs, further straining public resources.
The letter reminds lawmakers that the Traffic Mobility Review Board evaluated scores of requests for 'get out of toll free' cars, but ultimately granted very few exemptions, following a three-step code of conduct: Serve the many, not the few, act as fairly as possible, and keep tolls as low as possible by limiting toll exemptions for special interests.
Exempting one group or another would have a direct cost on other city taxpayers, while also undermining congestion pricing. Every exemption cuts into the hundreds of millions that congestion pricing must raise.
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