My posting here is directed to those who might be driving in Manhattan rather than using public transportation.

On June 30, 2024 NYC will be implementing a Congestion Pricing Toll for all cars that enter any part of Manhattan below 60th St . Before I go further, I want to point out that the entire program is the subject of multiple lawsuits intended to prevent it from happening.. While it is possible that some of the lawsuits may be successful, it is best to know about the program in case they are not.

The intent behind it is to reduce vehicle traffic in Manhattan from 60th St all the way down to the lower tip of Manhattan. The toll amounts collected are to benefit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the purpose of maintaining/improving the NYC Subway and Bus system. While you won't have to go thru a toll both there are EZ-Pass readers and License plate readers located at entry points from 60th St southward (the Congestion Pricing District or CBD). If you have an EZ-Pass the amount will be charged to it. If you don't have one the license plate reader will get the plate number of the vehicle and a bill will be sent to the registered owner. Vehicles will be charged only once a day. [The toll amounts are detailed in the links I am providing at the end of my post].

Those paying a toll when coming from NJ (Lincoln Tunnel, Holland Tunnel etc) will get a "Crossing credit" toward the Congestion pricing toll BUT only if you paid that toll using EZ-PASS.

The toll does not apply to FDR Drive, West Side Highway, and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connecting to West Street. However, you will be tolled if you exit from an excluded roadway onto a street within the CBD.

There are many, many more details including time of day pricing, amounts charged to for hire vehicles (taxi, Uber, Lyft etc).

Rather than try to list all possibilities, I am providing two links to pages will will provide more information. The toll amounts are detailed on those pages.

MTA: https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/tolling
MTA: https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/faqs
NYC: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03612

Governor Hochul, caving to the suburbs, just killed the program. Why does New York State, which would be nothing without New York City, get to call the shots in the city? Honestly, time for secession.

Fra-Diavolo - you beat me to it. But it should be noted that the program is not officially 'dead" but rather is "paused' indefinitely. That means that sometime in the future (hopefully far into the future and under a different Governor it might get resurrected).

What bothers me a bit is all that money spent to put in license plate readers all over Manhattan south of 60th ST. Money that could have been put to some better use.

A short quote from Governor Hochul from the NY TImes:"Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced on Wednesday that she was shelving the long-awaited tolling plan known as congestion pricing, just weeks before it was to go into effect.

“After careful consideration I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the planned congestion pricing system risks too many unintended consequences,” Ms. Hochul said, adding: “I have directed the M.T.A. to indefinitely pause the program.”

The decision, Ms. Hochul said, was not an easy one, but nonetheless crucial in light of the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic on working families and New York City’s economy."


Oh and Fra - As to succession - while the rest of NY State would be nothing w/o NYC, there is more political clout for NYC having the State doing much of the legwork in Washington.

"Oh and Fra - As to succession - while the rest of NY State would be nothing w/o NYC, there is more political clout for NYC having the State doing much of the legwork in Washington."

I meant secede from NYS, not the USA -- and think what two senators and the reps from NYC would bring to the Democrats! Not that it would ever happen . . .

UPDATE

It has been announced that the Congestion Pricing program will go into effect at midnight January 5, 2025. The main change is that instead of $15.00 being charged it will be $9.00 (overnight it will be $2.25). The other basic terms that I had posted back on June 3, 2024 (first post) will be in effect,

HOWEVER - between now and January 5, anything can happen as there are still a lot of lawsuits aimed at stopping the program. Also the incoming White House Administration (as of January 20) has indicated that they will terminate the program (whether they can is a whole other story since it is a State program).

At this point - anything is possible. So stay tuned folks.

Is this true? Odd that I saw nothing about it in the Times and taxi driver I hired yesterday knew nothing either.

This has been well covered in the news - on all local news stations and the press, certainly the NYTIMES and the online Gothamist. Governor Hochul has decided to try to move forward now and did so quickly at the lower charge before the change from the Biden to the Trump administration in order to secure approval from the federal government and gain approval for whatever funds can be gotten for the MTA mass transit improvements. Stay tuned as there are lawsuits.

​​​​​​​I live in California and its even been in the papers/news out here

Thanks...I just returned from Spain so was only reading the Times online and thus must have missed the news.

What I want to know, and need to find out, how car-owners living in the zone will be affected? If I live here, do I have to pay when I leave the city and drive home? Or drive to a restaurant in Queens (Flushing Chinese!!) and drive home after dinner?? Or drive over the 59th Street Bridge (yes, I know it has another name now but we call it just as I wrote) to Costco and home??

Seems a little steep given the monthly garage fee we pay!!! (yes, I know, poor us!!)

And yes, we all know that you are not "supposed" to own a car in Manhattan, so I do not need anyone veering off in that direction with their comments.

It's funny that everyone here (meaning my neighbors who own and garage their cars) is very confused about that last issue and I am asking people from California about it!

I think that some of the lawsuits are to address those issues and the lower charge will supposedly make the charge more palatable for those who live in Manhattan in the congestion zone and drive to work outside Manhattan - for example living in Stuyvesant Town for example and teaching in one of the outer boroughs where mass transit options are limited. Don't forget that the Queens/Nassau County line is approximately 260thst and the subway ends at 179th St. When and where I grew up in Queens, it was also what was then a two-fare zone, as you needed to take a bus to the subway. At least now there are free transfers.
I have friends who live on 49th and First. Both of their kids and grandchildren live in Brooklyn, so this is a toll they will pay once a week when they visit or need to be there to help out. You can only be charged only once a day however.
I also have a friend who has a large wholesale business in Long Island City. Most of his warehouse workers live in the Bronx or Yonkers and so they will now have an extra toll after taking the Triboro/RFK Bridge and driving down the FDR to the 59th St Bridge. His business will likely have to pick up the toll cost or increase their salaries.

There is an answer to your question in an article in today's (12/9/2024) of amnyMetro: https://www.amny.com/news/ask-the-mt...icing-edition/

To be specific:

"Q: I live south of 60th St. Do I still need to pay the toll?

A: Yes. Residents will still need to pay the toll if they enter the CRZ, unless they’ve received an exemption. But you would not be charged for days your car is parked or when all trips are made entirely within the CRZ. " [CRZ - Congestion Relief Zone]

For info and applications on exemptions (for non-emergency vehicles): https://new.mta.info/tolls/congestio...nts-exemptions

These links that I posted way up above have updated information:
MTA: https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/tolling
MTA: https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/faqs
NYC: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03612

Not to be dense, but when I drive from my garage at East 49th street by the FDR to the Greenmarket on Union Square (I do this almost every Saturday when I am in the city and partner waits in car while I do the food shopping for the coming week) do I have to pay a fee? Yikes, the Greenmarket prices are already through the roof!

I cannot imagine I would qualify for any exemption.

Madam: I remember the 2-fare zones...my grandfather lived in Arverne and took the train from Beach 60th street station to lower Manhattan every weekday for more than 60 years!!!! (He was cited in the paper when he died as the longest-serving employee of the City of New York; he began sweeping floors in the DA's office and eventually rose to some clerk position, serving from Jimmy Walker, I think, through Morganthau, who held a nice party in the DA's office when he retired)

"Not to be dense, but when I drive from my garage at East 49th street by the FDR to the Greenmarket on Union Square (I do this almost every Saturday when I am in the city and partner waits in car while I do the food shopping for the coming week) do I have to pay a fee? Yikes, the Greenmarket prices are already through the roof".

If I am reading the boundary lines and rules correctly, when you get on the FDR, you have left the Congestion Relief Zone (the FDR is not in the CRZ) but once you exit at 14th St you have entered the Zone again (sounds like a plot for a TV show - doesn't it?) and would be charged the $9 fee.

My suggestion is to at least consider using 2nd Av to head downtown to Union Square (14th St) and then back to 49th St by either 3rd Av or 1st Av. I know it would take longer with the traffic lights at every block and the amount of vehicles would probably be horrendous - especially on 1st Av near the U.N. but by staying on 'local' streets that are within the Zone you would avoid the $9 fee.

Just to clarify for those who would don't know the Greenmarket that is being referred to - it is an outdoor fFarmer's market located on the west and north sides of Union Square Park between 14th St and 18th St. It is full of booths representing various farms (and such) from all over the region selling fresh produce and other things as various cheeses etc. It is there year round (weather permitting of course) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 8 Am to 6 PM. One thing I can tell you it is very popular.

Thanks so much for that!!

We take 2nd Avenue south to 19th street and my partner usually parks (sits in car) on 18th east of Broadway. So if I understand right, we will not have to pay anything for that weekly trip.

You're welcome and you are correct, as long as you stay within the established boundaries of the Zone, you won't get charged the toll.

Correct! What they are still trying to determine is how to handle those who come off the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and immediately get on the FDR drive within the next block as well as those who have to get off the FDR Drive heading to the 59th St Bridge and are in the congestion zone for one block.

Another concern is for those who live north of the congestion zone who some fear their streets will now be inundated with people looking for parking. It's always been an issue in Washington Heights from people who take the GWB and then park and take the subway. I had a colleague who used to routinely drive into Harlem from the Bronx and park and take the subway from there. Same with people commuting from Riverdale and parking in the UES.