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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday resurrected the controversial congestion pricing plan that would charge drivers for entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours but lowered the proposed toll by $6, according to the New York Times.
Hochul killed the plan over the summer because critics said the initial toll of $15 was too high. But even at $9, the plan will likely face opposition from multiple parties, including the state of New Jersey and President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has said he would kill the plan, the Times reported. The plan, which would be the nation’s first, is designed to raise money for mass transit as it improves air quality and gridlock. Cities such as London and Stockholm have seen a reduction in congestion and air pollution levels since rolling out congestion pricing.
Over the summer, congestion pricing advocates told HR Brew that employers can think about ways to include public transit options in their commuter benefits. To consider how best to accomplish that goal, employers need to study where their workers are coming from and what mode of transportation they are using to get to work, said Matt Caywood, co-founder and CEO of Actionfigure, a tech firm that helps employers understand how their workers are commuting.
New York City already requires employers with at least 20 non-union employees to provide a commuter benefits program that allows workers to set aside part of their pre-tax income for transportation costs. But Caywood said there are other options employers could consider such as directly funding a portion of an employee’s commuting costs, for example. Another option could be subsidizing e-bike leasing.
Of course, there are people who need to drive to work for personal reasons, such as dropping off children at school or daycare. Caywood suggested that employers could explore “park-and-ride” options. These arrangements allow individuals to drive to a public transit stop, park there, and then use public transportation for the rest of the journey to work.