NEW YORK (PIX11) -- It has been talked about for decades and the final phases are in view.
The MTA says 96% of the 120 detection points have been installed along the boundaries south of 61st Street in Manhattan. Before they're activated, some final details need to be decided including decisions from courts.
A series of four public hearings begin Thursday at 6 p.m. at MTA Headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Congestion pricing will raise money and allow for additional borrowing to pay for transit improvement projects for the subways, buses, the LIRR, and Metro-North.
It was the focus of a presentation at the regular monthly board meeting on Wednesday.
MTA officials outlined new projects and state-of-good-repair projects that are facing delays without the funding.
"There is no plan B. The legislature doesn't have a way to come up with $15 billion," said MTA Chairman Janno Lieber.
Accessibility projects for new elevators and new signals are in jeopardy.
Lieber said it was "highly probable" the program will begin in the summer.
There are two court cases before judges. Opponents question the environmental review process.
The MTA says proper study was done and they expect a decision by June.
Comments can also be filed online. Other in-person hearings are on Friday at 10 a.m. and on Monday. State law created the general format for the program in 2019.
After a review involving thousands of pages of studies and data, the plan was approved by the Federal Highway Administration. A board named by Governor Kathy Hochul designed the specifics based on the studies.
Enforcement will also be a focus.
Bridges and Tunnels officials say they're looking for fake plates and repeat offenders. Some proposals are being looked at in Albany to make toll evasion a criminal act.
They're asking online retailers to restrict sales or license plate covers.
The MTA board set the final fee and exemptions. That discussion is expected in March.
Currently, the fee proposal for most vehicles is $15 with a $5 exemption for drivers using the tunnels.
The program is required by the statute to raise $1 billion.
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