New York enforces toll system for traffic congestion

The state on Sunday began a new system for charging drivers who enter New York City’s borough of Manhattan during its peak hours for traffic. The program, called congestion pricing, is the first such system in the country and sets new toll prices for vehicles that enter the Congestion Relief Zone that encompasses Manhattan below 60th Street. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and city officials drafted the rule attempting to reduce traffic congestion, improve travel times, reduce emissions, and create safer streets. More than 700,000 vehicles enter the Manhattan Business District every day and New Yorkers spend an average of 117 hours sitting in traffic every year, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or MTA.

How will the toll be enforced? Drivers will be charged once per day when they enter the zone through their E-ZPass. If they don’t have a device for the toll collection system, a bill will be mailed to the address associated with their vehicle. The toll price varies by vehicle type and what time of day the driver entered the zone. Tolls are more expensive during peak times, which the city has defined as 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Taxis and for-hire vehicles like Uber are enrolled in a plan that passes a per-trip toll onto passengers. The program is expected to raise millions of dollars for the MTA each year.

Has anyone opposed the change? New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy in 2023 sued the federal government over the plan, alleging officials had not reviewed it thoroughly. He and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said the toll could create more pollution in New Jersey. Federal Judge Leo Gordon last week rejected most of New Jersey’s claims about the impact of the toll, but did order the Federal Highway Administration and the MTA to further study the environmental impact of the program. Gordon on Saturday denied the state’s request for an injunction blocking the tolls.