After years of bureaucratic and legal arm wrestling, Democratic-run New York City will implement a much-debated plan to charge motorists entry into central Manhattan starting Sunday.
The goal of what's known as “congestion pricing” is to reduce traffic congestion and pollution and increase revenue for public transit agencies. It begins just after midnight on January 5th.
But critics see it as a cash grab on road drivers who have already paid their taxes and tolls.
A coalition of community organizations participates in a demonstration against New York Governor Kathy Hochul's congestion pricing plan in New York City on December 20, 2024. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said this week that the state would ignore the criticism and move forward with the plan.
AP memo Applicable conditions:
This fee applies to the south side of Central Park, which is Manhattan's busiest area. It depends on time and whether your car has E-ZPass, an electronic toll collection system used in many states.
1 for most cars, SUVs, light vans, and pickup trucks using E-ZPass during peak traffic hours (5 AM to 9 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 9 PM on weekends). There is a one-time fee of $9 per day. Nightly tolls drop to $2.25.
Drivers without an E-ZPass will receive a bill in the mail and will pay an additional fee of $13.50 during peak hours and $3.30 at night.
Drivers aren't the only ones paying. People who use Uber or taxi transportation will also be affected.
Passengers in taxis and rental cars will be charged a per-trip surcharge on the price of their ride to, within, or through so-called congestion relief zones. The fare will be 75 cents for taxis, green cabs and black cars, and $1.50 for Uber and Lyft passengers, the Associated Press reported.
A higher $15 toll was scheduled to go into effect earlier this year, but Hochul abruptly canceled the toll a few weeks before it started, saying it was too high.
A demonstration against New York Governor Kathy Hochul's congestion pricing plan takes place in New York City on December 20, 2024. At least four arguments in a lawsuit against the controversial congestion pricing plan that charges drivers who enter below 60th Street in Manhattan were presented in a federal court hearing aimed at ending the tolling. . (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
He proposed an updated plan with lower fees in November, shortly after President-elect Donald Trump was re-elected, but Republicans have vowed to scrap the plan after Trump returns to office on Jan. 20. Ta.
“I have the utmost respect for New York Governor Kathy Hochul and look forward to working with her to make New York and America great again. However, I strongly oppose her decision regarding the congestion charge.” said President Trump. new york post In an interview last November.
Local Republican lawmakers have already asked him to intervene.
Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a suburban district just north of New York City, called on President Trump to promise to “end this absurd congestion toll cash grab once and for all.”
