Hampton Jitney, the go-to bus service for New Yorkers eyeing a getaway to the scenic Hamptons or the North Fork of Long Island, is at a crossroads. Celebrating its 50th year of operation, this beloved transport lifeline is caught in the web of New York City’s latest traffic mitigation strategy: congestion pricing. This initiative, aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Manhattan’s bustling central business district, could inadvertently bump up costs for the Jitney, affecting fares for its riders.
The issue’s root lies in a proposed tolling scheme designed to target vehicles entering the most traffic-heavy part of Manhattan. Under this plan, dubbed congestion pricing, vehicles like those operated by Hampton Jitney Inc. would face doubled toll expenses. This revelation comes straight from the horse’s mouth, as the company communicated its concerns through an email to its patrons, urging them to rally for an exemption.
“We are asking for help from our ridership,” Geoffrey Lynch, Hampton Jitney’s president, wrote in an email first obtained by Bloomberg.
A potential $24 fee slapped on buses during peak hours is at the heart of this debate. Though a $6 tunnel credit offers a slight buffer, the math doesn’t favor the Jitney. With around 20,000 trips through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in the previous year, the financial strain is palpable. A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the body spearheading the toll, underscored the proposed tolling structure, hinting at a 30% hike in operational costs for the bus company.
While the MTA’s Traffic Mobility Review Board meticulously drafted this fee design, exemptions seem slim, with the final vote on the horizon. This decision affects the Jitney and the entire city’s transport system, setting a precedent for how public and private transport entities coexist within urban tolling frameworks.
Hampton Jitney isn’t just another bus service; it’s a vital connector for New Yorkers seeking respite in the Hamptons’ luxury or the North Fork’s tranquility. Its summer services, often booked solid days in advance, illustrate its critical role in the city’s leisure travel dynamics. Priced competitively at $40 for a one-way ticket, it is a more accessible alternative to pricier options like Uber or helicopter rides, not to mention its edge in service frequency over the Long Island Rail Road.
The looming congestion pricing toll, poised to kick in as early as mid-June, targets a noble cause: generating $1 billion annually to rejuvenate NYC’s century-old transit system. However, it sparks a conversation about balancing urban development and maintaining affordable access to the city’s outskirts. With a public comment period open until 11th March, the dialogue between community needs and urban planning is intense.
New Yorkers on both sides had much to say during Thursday’s MTA’s public hearing. “This congestion fee is essentially a cancer tax on people who need medical care to survive,” lamented Fumiko Chino, a radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering. This is a widely held view, according to the New York Post.
US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) of Staten Island believes the solution isn’t imposing a congestion fee but improving the subway system. “If you guys want people to ride the subway system, you got to make it safe,” she said.
Public members have until Monday, 11th March, to offer their views.
