Boston officials have engaged in preliminary discussions with New York City regarding its congestion pricing system as the Massachusetts capital explores sustainable funding options for transportation improvements. Mayor Michelle Wu noted during a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday that her team has “been in touch a little bit” with New York to gather insights into how the city’s program operates.
The conversations emerged amid broader debates about financing Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure. Board member Len Diggins encouraged Wu to consider tax measures, including payroll taxes, as potential revenue sources. “I just want to encourage you to not be afraid of the T word. The tax word,” Diggins said, highlighting New York City’s use of a payroll tax to support transit investments.
Wu responded by referencing New York’s congestion pricing, a system charging vehicles that enter a designated zone in Manhattan to reduce traffic and fund public transit improvements. The zone covers all local streets south of 60th Street, with tolls varying by vehicle type and time of day. Passenger vehicles pay $9 once daily during peak hours, while trucks and buses incur higher fees. The program, which launched recently, generated over $550 million in net revenue during its first year, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“Our teams have been in touch a little bit to just understand what they have experienced and the details there,” Wu said, emphasizing ongoing regional collaboration. She also noted discussions among Massachusetts municipalities, including Medford Mayor Robert Lungo-Koehn and leaders from Metro Boston, about revenue challenges amid economic strains and widespread ballot questions related to property tax overrides.
The topic of congestion pricing and tolling has elicited varied responses in Massachusetts. Former Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt acknowledged in 2024 that the Transportation Funding Task Force would explore all potential options, including congestion pricing. However, her comments about tolling at the state’s borders met public resistance. While the Massachusetts Turnpike has long utilized tolls, proposals to expand tolling on other roads have faced sensitivity due to concerns about congestion and additional financial burdens on drivers.
During the advisory board meeting, Wu also highlighted the impact of Boston’s fare-free bus pilot program, describing it as “transformational” for local residents. The pilot has contributed to approximately 150,000 daily bus rides within Boston, comprising over half of all MBTA ridership on an average weekday.
As Boston and Massachusetts grapple with ways to fund transportation sustainably, officials appear open to learning from other metropolitan models while balancing local economic and political considerations.