MTA Approves $9 Manhattan Congestion Toll Starting January, Rising to $15 by 2031

Nov 18, 2024, 06:35 PM

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a revised congestion pricing plan for Manhattan, which the MTA board approved on Monday. Starting January 5, drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street will be charged a $9 toll, a 40% reduction from the initially proposed $15 toll. Hochul claims that the reduced toll will save daily commuters nearly $1,500 annually. The toll is expected to increase gradually, reaching $15 by 2031. The congestion pricing aims to reduce traffic congestion by an estimated 80,000 vehicles daily, improve air quality, and fund mass transit projects, including the Second Avenue Subway extension and more ADA-accessible stations. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber stated that the program is 'ready to go'. The MTA expects the program to raise billions of dollars for transit improvements. While supporters like Rep. Jerry Nadler commend the plan for bringing safer streets, cleaner air, and improved transit, critics argue that the new toll is an unfair burden on commuters and businesses, disputing Hochul’s claim that the reduced toll saves commuters money, since previously there was no toll. The approval marks the first implementation of congestion pricing in the United States.