With MTA Vote, Congestion Pricing in Manhattan Goes Into Effect

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Following an overwhelming vote by the MTA Board on Wednesday, the approval was granted to implement Congestion Pricing in Manhattan.   

The plan means that many drivers will be charged $15 for entering certain parts of Lower Manhattan. Drivers without E-Z Pass will be charged $22.50. Trucks will be charged even higher rates to enter the busiest part of the city. There will discounts for drivers entering this area between 9:00 p.m., and 5:00 a.m., and municipal vehicles will not be charged. There are also a number of other vehicles that will be exempt, such as those belonging to disabled people.  

The toll is set to go into effect in mid-June. 

A number of lawsuits have been filed against the plan, but this has not blocked the plan from going into effect this spring. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul praised the passage of Congestion Pricing, saying, “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,” Hochul said. “The proposal approved today heeds my call to lower the toll rate by nearly 35 percent from the maximum rate originally considered. This initiative will make New York City a global leader in transportation policy, and I'm grateful for the work of the Traffic Mobility Review Board to bring us to this milestone.”