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September 14, 2021
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Public Meetings on Congestion Pricing to Begin Next Week |
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First Two Meetings Will Be Held Thursday, Sept. 23
Ten General Interest Meetings Will Be Complemented by Three Meetings Addressing Environmental Justice Communities, for a Total of 13 Public Meetings
Public Invited to Listen/Watch or to Sign Up to Comment at Meetings
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) are reminding the public that on Thursday, Sept. 23, the agencies will begin holding 13 public meetings on the proposed congestion pricing program, formally known as Central Business District Tolling. The meetings allow the public to learn more about the initiative and offer comments. They will be held virtually.
Ten of the 13 meetings will allow members of the public throughout the 28 county Study Area in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to learn about the program and environmental review process and provide comments. The additional three meetings will provide a special focus on individuals and stakeholder groups in identified Environmental Justice communities, who will have opportunities to receive information about the proposed program and its potential impacts – positive or negative – on minority or low-income populations.
Ten Regional Public Meetings to Be Held Sept. 23 Through Oct. 6
The 10 general interest public meetings will focus on different geographic areas within the region, but anyone from any area can participate in any meeting.
The meetings will be held virtually at these dates and times:
Three Environmental Justice Outreach Meetings to Be Held Oct. 7, 12 & 13
Environmental Justice community members will be able to learn about or comment on the proposed program and Environmental Assessment process. Members of Environmental Justice communities will learn about the Environmental Justice Technical Advisory Group that is being created as part of the effort and how they can join an Environmental Justice Stakeholder Working Group or suggest someone else.
Three virtual meetings will be held, focused on environmental justice communities located respectively in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, though anyone may participate in or sign up to attend any or all of these:
Registering to Speak or Requesting Language Services Can Be Done Online or By Phone
Those who wish to register to speak at any of the meetings can do so by visiting the Central Business District Tolling Program’s web portal at new.mta.info/project/CBDTP or by calling (646) 252-6777.
The second, (646) 252-6777, allows the public to hear a brief description of the project, to sign up to speak at the public meetings, or request in advance language or American Sign Language services, or request language at least five days in advance of each meeting.
The feedback gathered in the public meetings will be part of the Environmental Assessment required by the United State Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that will be published for public review. Following the release of the Environmental Assessment, there will be additional public meetings for comment specifically on the document.
The Central Business District Tolling Program was authorized by the State of New York in April 2019 and modeled on urban congestion pricing programs around the world to reduce traffic congestion and raise needed revenue to improve public transportation. Other cities across the world that have similar programs have also experienced improved air quality. If approved by FHWA, the CBDTP would be the first such program in the United States.
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