Directs the commissioner of transportation to conduct a study on the effects of the congestion surcharge imposed in lower Manhattan, including impacts to residents and businesses in the congestion zone, and any reduction in emissions resulting from such surcharge; requires a report on the findings of such study to be submitted no later than 2 years after the effective date.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A7699
SPONSOR: Fall
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act directing the commissioner of transportation to conduct a study
on the effects of the congestion surcharge imposed in lower Manhattan
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation intent is to conduct a study on congestion surcharge
imposed in Lower Manhattan and the effects it has on residents.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with the commission-
er of economic development, shall conduct a study on the effects of the
congestion surcharge. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, a
comprehensive review of the following: impacts to residents and busi-
nesses located in the congestion zone from the congestion surcharge; and
any reduction in emissions in the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten
Island stemming from the congestion surcharge. Upon request, any state
or local agency or other governmental entity shall submit to the commis-
sioner of transportation, any information the commissioner of transpor-
tation shall deem necessary for the completion of the study under this
act. The commissioner of transportation shall create a comprehensive
report on the findings of the study under this act, including any legis-
lative recommendations, and shall submit such report to the governor,
the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly
no later than two years after the effective date of this act. For the
purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the following mean-
ings: "congestion surcharge" means the surcharge imposed pursuant to
article twenty-nine-C of the tax law; "congestion zone" means the
geographic area of the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan,
south of and excluding 96th street.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Congestion pricing refers to the use of electronic tolling to charge
vehicles for entering certain areas during peak commuting hours, ideally
resulting in reduced traffic congestion and increased revenue for tran-
sit-oriented projects. The electronic tolling system will operate simi-
larly to the cashless tolling system on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge,
where overhead sensors read drivers' E-ZPass tags and administer the fee
directly to their account. In the case of non-E-ZPass drivers, the over-
head cameras would photograph their license plate, and a bill would be
mailed to them directly. There are many pros and cons to congestion
pricing in Manhattan. We currently face a crisis of congestion and
crisis of a transit system in New York City; although in theory,
congestion pricing would reduce traffic along with environmental
impacts, it is however another expense for people who depend on cars to
get to jobs in Manhattan - or people whose cars are their jobs. This
legislation will have a comprehensive study conducted by the commission-
er of transportation along with the commissioner of economic development
on the impacts of congestion pricing surcharge and report the findings
to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker
of the assembly no later than two years after the effective date of this
act.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None to state.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7699
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 6, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FALL -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation
AN ACT directing the commissioner of transportation to conduct a study
on the effects of the congestion surcharge imposed in lower Manhattan
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of transportation, in consultation with
2 the commissioner of economic development, shall conduct a study on the
3 effects of the congestion surcharge.
4 § 2. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, a comprehensive
5 review of the following:
6 (a) impacts to residents and businesses located in the congestion zone
7 from the congestion surcharge; and
8 (b) any reduction in emissions in the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten
9 Island stemming from the congestion surcharge.
10 § 3. Upon request, any state or local agency or other governmental
11 entity shall submit to the commissioner of transportation, any informa-
12 tion the commissioner of transportation shall deem necessary for the
13 completion of the study under this act.
14 § 4. The commissioner of transportation shall create a comprehensive
15 report on the findings of the study under this act, including any legis-
16 lative recommendations, and shall submit such report to the governor,
17 the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly
18 no later than two years after the effective date of this act.
19 § 5. For the purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the
20 following meanings:
21 (a) "congestion surcharge" means the surcharge imposed pursuant to
22 article twenty-nine-C of the tax law.
23 (b) "congestion zone" means the geographic area of the city of New
24 York, in the borough of Manhattan, south of and excluding 96th street.
25 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11438-01-3