Congestion pricing in New York City will require most cars, trucks, and taxi and Uber riders to pay a toll when entering the designated congestion zone below 60th Street. The toll rates will vary based on the vehicle type, with passenger vehicles facing a $15 charge during weekdays and $24 for small trucks and charter buses. Motorcycles will pay $7.50 and large trucks or tour buses will pay $36. There will be a 75 percent discount on tolls at night. Taxis, black car services, and Uber and Lyft rides will see an increase in fares, which will be added to every trip starting, ending, or occurring within the congestion zone.
Exemptions from the tolls will be granted to emergency vehicles, school buses with city contracts, and some specialized government vehicles like garbage trucks. Certain commuter and regional buses, as well as commuter vans licensed by the Taxi and Limousine Commission, will also be exempt from the tolls. Low-income drivers making less than $50,000 annually can receive a 50 percent discount on tolls after their first 10 trips in a month. Residents of the congestion zone earning less than $60,000 a year can apply for a state tax credit. Drivers entering the zone from certain tolled tunnels will receive a credit that can be applied against the daytime toll.
While the Federal Highway Administration is expected to approve the final tolling program, legal challenges from New York and New Jersey could potentially block or delay its implementation. Lawsuits have been filed by the State of New Jersey, the mayor of Fort Lee, Staten Island borough president, and city residents. Opponents of congestion pricing have raised concerns about the cost of the tolls and the potential environmental impact on surrounding areas as drivers seek alternate routes to avoid paying. The MTA has suspended certain construction projects funded by the toll revenue due to the pending legal battles, leading to delays in crucial subway modernization work.
