Feb. 9, 2025
By Tyler Herman
Staff Writer
Drivers in New York City are facing a new toll this year, as congestion pricing went into effect on Jan. 5.
The first-in-the-nation program charges most passenger cars entering Manhattan south of 60th Street $9 from 5 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekends. During overnight hours, the toll decreases to $2.25.
Taxis, green cabs and for-hire vehicles will face a 75-cent surcharge per trip, while rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber will charge $1.50 per trip for rides that begin, end or pass through Manhattan’s congestion relief zone.
Drivers are charged once per day to enter the congestion relief zone, and those coming from New Jersey must still pay tolls to enter New York City via the bridges and tunnels.
The city plans to use money generated from the toll to strengthen the public transit system’s infrastructure and improve accessibility on buses and subways, according to Car and Driver Magazine.
“More people will use mass transportation like the bus and train to avoid the $9 fee.”
Spanish teacher Ms. Silvelo, who enjoys spending her free time in Manhattan, said congestion pricing is making her think twice about heading into the city.
“I [will] only travel [into Manhattan] about once or twice a month because it is crazy to pay $9 just to get into the city to see a show or eat at a good restaurant,” Silvelo said.
On the third day of congestion pricing, subway ridership was up 12.7%, and initial data showed a 7.5% decline in overall traffic in the congestion relief zone, according to ABC News.
Silvelo said she predicts ridership on public transportation will continue to rise.
“More people will use mass transportation like the bus and train to avoid the $9 fee,” Silvelo said.
Sophomore Layla Sanchez, who travels to New York City by car to see her father who lives in Manhattan, said because of congestion pricing, she will be more likely to use the train to go into the city and expects others to do the same.
“Congestion pricing will definitely encourage people to use public transportation because [it costs] less,” Sanchez said.
She said congestion pricing especially burdens those like her dad, whose jobs require driving around New York City.
“For his [job as a private chauffeur], he drives all over New York, so the toll pricing will affect him heavily. I find this to be unfair because a lot of people travel throughout New York to get to their workplace, and a toll pricing like that can add up in the long run,” Sanchez said.
Junior Steven Mule, who travels to New York City by car to see his relatives in Queens, said he disagrees with congestion pricing.
“When prices were normal, we would visit every two weeks. Now the prices are high, [so] we are only visiting once a month,” Mule said.
He said his family’s normal route using the Lincoln Tunnel to get to Queens takes about 45 minutes.
“Now, it is one hour and 30 minutes because we are taking the George Washington Bridge where the traffic is horrible because everyone is trying to avoid the $9 fee,” Mule said.
He said implementing congestion pricing is one of the worst decisions New York’s government has made.
“It’s not fair for the people that are visiting their families in New York,” Mule said. “[Charging] $9 to enter the city is just unreal.”
