Drivers heading into Midtown Manhattan will soon face a new $9 toll in New York state.
Governor Kathy Hochul has taken steps to revive the debated congestion pricing initiative, stating it will provide financial support for MTA improvements and reduce congestion and pollution in urban areas.
Hochul unexpectedly halted the program right before its June launch at a base rate of $15, only to restart it with a reduced fee just ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration potentially intervening.
Some critics claim that the initial toll, approved by state lawmakers and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019, is merely a way for the MTA to generate revenue, placing an additional financial burden on New York City drivers.
Here’s some additional information you should be aware of:
Start date for Congestion Pricing
Tolls for cars will start at midnight on January 5 as per Hochul’s announcement.
Toll Amount
Standard passenger vehicles with an E-ZPass will incur a daily fee of $9 for entering the tolling zone during daytime hours, which are set from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The base amount will rise to $12 by 2028.
| Vehicle Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Motorcycles | $4.50 |
| Small Trucks & Non-Commuter Buses | $14.40 |
| Large Trucks & Tourism Buses | $21.60 |
| Taxi & Black Car Drivers | $0.75 per ride |
| Uber, Lyft, & Rideshare Drivers | $1.50 per ride |
The overnight toll is cut by 75%, costing about $2.25 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Location of the Toll Zone
The toll zone includes every area south of 60th Street, covering all of Manhattan below Central Park.
Highways passing through the central business area, including the FDR Drive, West Side Highway, and Battery Park underpass, are exempt unless drivers leave for city streets within the zone.
How to Pay Toll Price?
Using an E-ZPass transponder is the simplest method for toll payment. Devices set up at the main access points to the downtown area will recognize when a vehicle enters and will automatically charge the driver’s E-ZPass account.
Vehicles lacking an E-ZPass transponder will incur tolls that are billed directly to the registered address associated with the vehicle’s license plate.
Drivers lacking an E-ZPass will get a bill in the mail and face a higher toll charge, although the exact amount is not yet known.
Exceptions
A new toll offers discounts for certain frequent low-income travelers. Hochul announced that individuals earning less than $50,000 annually will receive a 50% discount on all trips after their first 10 within a calendar month.
Transit and commuter buses will be exempt from the toll fees.
Ambulances, fire trucks, and government vehicles such as garbage trucks and school buses are not subject to these regulations.
How will the funds be allocated?
The MTA plans to allocate expected toll revenue to support its $15 billion capital plan for the years 2020 to 2024.
Hochul and the MTA announced that the funds will be allocated for capital enhancements, including the installation of additional elevators at stations, the extension of the Second Avenue subway, upgrades to signals, and the procurement of hundreds of new electric buses.