New York Set to Launch Nation’s First Congestion Charge in January
New York City is gearing up to be the first in the United States to implement a congestion charge, aiming to relieve its packed streets and boost public transportation. Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that, starting January 5, vehicles entering certain high-traffic areas of Manhattan will be subject to new tolls.
Hochul initially halted the congestion pricing plan in June, following resistance from commuters and local businesses. The updated plan features reduced fees compared to the original proposal: passenger cars will now pay a daytime toll of $9—down from the previously suggested $15. Small trucks and non-commuter buses will pay $14.40, while larger trucks and tourist buses will face a $21.60 fee to enter Manhattan.
The pricing zone covers Manhattan below 60th Street, targeting the core of New York’s bustling commercial and residential districts. Hochul sees the program as essential for reducing pollution, easing traffic, and securing funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates the city’s transit system.
The revived plan has strong backing from transit advocacy groups like the Riders Alliance, which called Hochul’s initiative a “positive step” in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “We’ll keep working to ensure the funds go toward projects riders need most,” the group stated.
Not everyone is on board, however. President-elect Donald Trump, who assumes office in January, voiced opposition to the program in a recent interview with the New York Post, saying, “I respect Governor Hochul, but this congestion tax is a mistake.”
Some local Republicans are already calling on Trump to take action. Congressman Mike Lawler, whose district lies north of New York City, urged Trump to put an end to what he called an “absurd congestion pricing cash grab.”
Despite the backlash, Hochul remains resolute. “I’m not governed by election timelines,” she asserted at a press event, emphasizing her commitment to New York’s transportation needs. The congestion charge will roll out shortly before Trump’s inauguration, adding a touch of political tension to the city’s bold transportation experiment.
