Dear Neighbor, I hope you are managing to stay safe and reasonably comfortable as we experience extreme heat over the coming days. A heat advisory is in effect through Saturday, July 29th, with the heat index expected to reach 105 degrees or greater. These conditions pose a health hazard to everyone, but they are particularly dangerous for older adults and those with chronic health conditions. New York City has activated close to 500 cooling centers at libraries, senior centers, and businesses. You can find locations and hours online here or by calling 311. In recent weeks, my staff and I have been hearing from an increasing number of constituents with questions and concerns about the implementation of the Central Business District Tolling Program (commonly known as “congestion pricing”) in Manhattan south of 60th Street. This email provides an overview of where we are in the process, next steps, and remaining opportunities to weigh in. Below you will also find information about the benefits available to New Yorkers through the federal Inflation Reduction Act enacted last year, my recent City Council testimony on Madison Square Garden's application for a Special Permit, and upcoming community events and resources. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at [email protected] or 212-490-9535. Best, Liz Krueger State Senator Update on Congestion Pricing On June 23rd, the Federal Highway Association gave New York State final approval to implement congestion pricing. A Finding of No Significant Impact was issued following an extensive environmental review process. Traffic Mobility Review Board  Now it is up to the Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) to create a final fee structure that will include all final discounts, exemptions, and rates ahead of the program's implementation. The TMRB is a six-member panel established by state law that is tasked with developing a recommended toll structure after considering factors such as traffic patterns, traffic mitigation measures, operating costs, public impact, public safety, vehicle types, discounts, peak and off-peak rates, air quality, and emissions trends. Five members of the TMRB were appointed by the MTA and one by the NYC Mayor. Determining Congestion Pricing Fees and Exemptions Please note that we do not have a final fee scale yet for congestion pricing, and there will likely be a sliding fee structure based on the time of day vehicles enter the congestion zone, with higher fees during rush hour and lower fees at night. The MTA has proposed multiple fee structures, ranging from $9 to $23 during peak driving hours,$7 to $17 during off-peak driving hours, and $5 to $12 during overnight hours. The tolling scenarios evaluated as part of the environmental review process can be found in Table ES-12 (see pg 54) of the Final Environmental Impact Statement. Since congestion pricing must generate a minimum of $1 billion in annual revenue, the final fees will be lower or higher depending on the number of exemptions allowed by the TMRB. If fewer exemptions are created the overall fees will be lower and vice-versa. The 2019 state law establishing congestion pricing included broad guidelines on a potential congestion program but left the design, development, and operation of the program up to the MTA’s Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. The law requires congestion pricing to generate $1 billion annually which will enable the MTA to obtain $15 billion in bond financing for its current capital plan. The law only requires three exemptions: one for emergency vehicles, a second for vehicles transporting people with disabilities, and a third for residents of the congestion pricing zone who earn less than $60,000 per year. The TMRB will decide on any other exemptions or discounts not mandated by state law. The first public meeting of the TMRB took place on July 19th. You can watch a recording of the meeting here. Additional meetings are likely to be scheduled over the coming months. When Will Congestion Pricing Start? Once the TMRB recommends a final rate structure and the MTA Board approves it, congestion pricing’s proposed regulations will go through the review process mandated by New York State Administrative Procedure Act. This will include formal notification, the sharing of draft regulations, and a public hearing and comment period. Once this is complete and final regulations have been issued, congestion pricing will go into effect. If a fee structure is adopted on the expected timeline, fee collection could begin as soon as May 2024. Congestion Pricing Infrastructure Installation The MTA has begun construction of the tolling infrastructure needed to collect congestion pricing fees. The contractor was given authority to proceed on June 27th, and installation is scheduled to take place from July to late December 2023. A pdf presentation by the MTA detailing the location and design of the tolling infrastructure to be installed is available online here. The upcoming installation schedule can be found here. Construction-related concerns can be emailed directly to the MTA at [email protected] or submitted by phone to their hotline: 877-201-4015. Why is Congestion Pricing Needed? Those of us who live and work in Manhattan know very well the negative impacts of traffic congestion on our daily lives – the air pollution, the noise, the risks to pedestrians posed by our overcrowded streets, and the frustration of being stuck on a bus or in a car or taxi moving slower through traffic than pedestrians walking. We also know the benefits of well-funded, reliable, fast public transit. Congestion pricing is a tried and tested approach that will reduce congestion, improve the quality of life of Manhattanites, and provide desperately needed funds to support the subways and buses that the vast majority of New Yorkers rely on every day. The existential crisis of climate change demands that we urgently lower our vehicle emissions, and congestion pricing is a proven way to do this. In addition, this policy will reduce the high levels of traffic that increase commute times and pose a threat to pedestrian safety. In London, Singapore, and Stockholm, three other world-class class cities where congestion pricing programs have been implemented, we have seen reductions of up to 25% in traffic congestion, up to 20% drops in air pollution, and reduced drive times for those who do continue to use personal vehicles to commute in and out of the respective congestion zones. Having said this, I understand that many of my constituents have serious concerns about how congestion pricing will impact them and their neighborhoods. I appreciate that it will increase the cost of car ownership for many New York City residents, and may lead to slightly higher fees for those who regularly use ride-hailing services. As a car owner myself, as well as a pedestrian and a user of mass transit, I believe that the positives of this program outweigh any negatives for those of us who live in the overly-congested core of Manhattan. I have submitted testimony and a joint letter to the MTA and TMRB outlining suggestions to make congestion pricing as effective as possible while minimizing the impacts on the most vulnerable. How to Stay Informed I will share details on upcoming public meetings and hearings when they are available. In the meantime, I encourage everyone with thoughts and recommendations to submit them to the MTA via this link. You can also sign up for updates from the MTA on this process here. You may also find a New York Times article which provides answers to frequently asked questions about congestions pricing to be helpful. Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act Millions of working-and-middle-class New York households, as well as small businesses, qualify for up to thousands of dollars in tax breaks, rebates, and benefits as part of the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) enacted by President Biden in August 2022. The IRA includes a total of $369 billion for climate change and energy programs over ten years. A wide range of benefits are available for electric vehicle purchases and infrastructure, installing energy efficient utilities in homes and small businesses, energy efficiency improvements made in homes, and transitioning to solar systems. Many of these benefits can be attained during the tax filing process. For details on the benefits available and eligibility, please see the guide on my website, the Rewiring America calculator, and the New York League of Conservation Voters’ guide. Read the Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act Testimony Before the NYC Council on Madison Square Garden's Special Permit Application On July 18th, I submitted joint testimony with Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Tony Simone to the New York City Council regarding Madison Square Garden's application to continue operating its arena in its current location. Given the arena's incompatibility with the planned reconstruction of Penn Station and negative impacts on the surrounding community, we urged the City Planning Commission to reject the Special Permit. However, if New York City ultimately decides to renew the permit, we called for the renewal to be for a maximum of three years. Any renewal must also be contingent on Madison Square Garden agreeing to make itself fully compatible with the Penn Station reconstruction, transforming how it handles its loading operations, and improving access to above and below ground public spaces. Read Our Testimony Night Out Against Crime August 1st Police precincts across New York City are hosting Night Out Against Crime community celebrations on Tuesday, August 1st. These are a great opportunity to get to know NYPD leadership and officers in your neighborhood precinct and spend time with neighbors. Most events include food, games for all ages, arts and crafts, music, and information on crime prevention. Locations and times for all 70 events taking place citywide are available online here. Details for the precinct events that overlap with my Senate district are below. 13th Precinct, 5–8pm, Augustus St Gardens Playground, Second Avenue (between 19 & 20 Streets) 17th Precinct, 5–8pm, Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, East 47 Street (between First and Second Avenues) 19th Precinct, 5–8pm, St. Catherine's Park, 1245 First Avenue (between 67 & 68 Streets) Midtown South, 5–8pm, McCaffery Park Playground, West 43 Street (between Eighth & Ninth Avenues) Midtown North, 5–8pm, PS 111, West 53 Street and Tenth Avenue Free Summer Meals for New York City Children The New York City Public Schools focus on the health and well-being of young people continues throughout the summer months, and they provide free meals to children across the City during the summer. Through September 1st, all children are eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch meals at sites across the City, including schools, parks and pools, in all five boroughs. No identification or application is required and meals will be available Monday through Friday. Breakfast will be served from 8:00am to 9:15am and lunch will be served from 11:00am to 1:15pm at designated sites. For more details and a list of locations, please go to the DOE Summer Meals Website. Important Info for New Yorkers Covered by Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan NY State Senate Summer Reading Challenge NYC Summer Streets Evenings on the East River Esplanade How to Donate to Asylum Seekers in Our Community New Department of Sanitation Rules for Food Businesses Starting August 1st District Office: 211 East 43rd Street, Suite 2000 | New York, NY 10017 | (212) 490-9535 | Fax: (212) 499-2558 Albany Office: Capitol Building, Room 416 | Albany, NY 12247 | (518) 455-2297 | Fax: (518) 426-6874 Email: [email protected] | On the Web: krueger.nysenate.gov   Senator Liz Krueger | 211 E 43rd St, #2000, New York, NY 10017 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!