Traffic data reports from NYC's Department of Transportation or MTA

NYC's $9 Congestion Pricing Begins at Midnight After Judge Denies NJ Appeal

Jan 4, 2025, 11:54 PM

New York City will implement its congestion pricing plan starting at midnight on Sunday, January 5, 2025, charging drivers entering Manhattan at or below 60th Street during peak hours a toll of $9. The plan, the first of its kind in the United States, aims to reduce traffic congestion and pollution while raising an estimated $15 billion for mass transit improvements. Despite a last-minute legal challenge from New Jersey, including an appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, federal Judge Leo Gordon denied the request for a temporary restraining order, allowing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to proceed as scheduled. New Jersey officials, represented by attorney Randy Mastro, plan to continue their legal battle. Trucks will face higher tolls, with large trucks paying $21.60 and small trucks $14.40. Motorcycles will be charged $4.50. Discounts and exemptions are available for certain drivers. The congestion pricing program is modeled after similar initiatives in cities like London and Stockholm, and is expected to decrease the number of vehicles entering Manhattan by 80,000 per day. Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA Chairman Janno Lieber have championed the program, emphasizing its benefits for cleaner air, better transit, safer streets, and faster emergency response times.