New York City is set to impose a new “congestion” toll — in addition to existing tolls for the bridges and tunnels — on vehicles entering Midtown and Lower Manhattan.
New York transit officials confirmed that the city is moving forward with a toll of up to $15 for vehicles to enter Manhattan below 60th Street — including areas like Times Square, Washington Square Park, and Wall Street — once per day. Commercial trucks will be required to pay up to $36. Taxis are set to add $1.25 per ride and Ubers and Lyfts are planning to implement increases of $2.50 per ride.
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The city hopes to bring in $1 billion annually with the new toll and claims the funds will be spent on improving New York’s subway and bus systems.
Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul is a strong supporter of the price hike. “Congestion pricing means cleaner air, better transit and less gridlock on New York City’s streets and today’s vote by the MTA Board is a critical step forward,” she said. “The proposal approved today heeds my call to lower the toll rate by nearly 35 percent from the maximum rate originally considered.”
"New York city will be the first city in America to charge Americans just to go to work in the morning"
"Americans will have to pay $23 per day"
"Passenger vehicles will be charged $15 to enter the congestion zone"
"Trucks between $26 and $36"
"The tolls will be charged once… pic.twitter.com/kMiREg4pI6
— Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) December 6, 2023
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The announcement was written by the Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB), a six-member advisory panel that also recommended the tolling structure in the first place. TMRB Chairman Carl Weisbrod called the toll “a huge step forward for the region” and added, “we’ve seen it work elsewhere around the world, and now it is becoming concrete.”
Other cities around the world have embraced so-called “congestion” tolls in recent years, including London and Stockholm.
The pricing for the New York hike is not yet finalized. Mayor Eric Adams has also called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to allow several exemptions to the new toll such as politicians and government workers. “I think you were doing very well until you said people working at City Hall. You know, they, we have to pay,” said Adams.
Meanwhile, the head of the MTA mocked New Jersey state leaders for complaining about the new pricing plan, criticizing them for being “content to let traffic keep choking” Manhattan’s streets.
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