The first congestion charge for vehicles in the US has come into effect in New York City officially

New York City’s congestion pricing program officially began on Sunday, January 5, making it the first U.S. city to implement such a system. The program imposes tolls on vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone, defined as the area south of 60th Street in Manhattan.

Drivers of passenger vehicles are charged up to $9 during peak hours, while trucks and buses face fees of up to $14.40. Off-peak rates drop to $2.25 for cars overnight, and discounts are automatically applied for vehicles that have already paid tolls on bridges and tunnels entering the city. Additionally, the program affects taxi and ride-sharing fares, adding $0.75 per trip for taxis and $1.50 for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft within the zone.

According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), the toll aims to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, enhance public transit, and speed up emergency vehicle response times. The MTA projects that the program will decrease the number of vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone by 80,000 daily. Revenue generated will fund approximately $15 billion in subway and bus improvements, including better accessibility and infrastructure upgrades. The toll is expected to increase to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031.

While supporters highlight the program’s environmental and transit benefits, critics—particularly lawmakers from New Jersey and New York’s suburbs—argue that the toll unfairly targets commuters who rely on driving into Manhattan.

The toll system uses cameras to scan EZ-Pass devices and license plates, with higher rates applied to drivers billed by mail. The MTA is urging drivers to ensure their license plates are linked to their EZ-Pass accounts to avoid unnecessary fees.

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