"Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that most cars will now have to pay to enter the city at peak hours, a hotly debated move intended to reduce traffic."

"NEW YORK — Plans to enact the nation’s first congestion pricing program in New York City have been revived, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced Thursday, five months after the initiative was abruptly paused amid pushback from drivers and a flurry of lawsuits. Speaking at a news briefing, Hochul said most vehicles will be required to pay $9 to enter Lower and Midtown Manhattan during peak hours, a decrease from the original plan, which would have charged $15. The toll policy aims to cut traffic, reduce air pollution and help fund improvements to the city’s public transportation system. Here’s what to know.

The plan will require passenger and small commercial vehicles to pay $9 to enter the “Congestion Relief Zone,” which includes streets in Manhattan below 60th Street. It will take effect on Jan. 5. Hochul said drivers who make less than $50,000 a year would get a 50 percent discount after their 10th toll of each month, and drivers who enter after 9 p.m. would also get a discount.

New York is the most heavily congested city in the United States, with traffic in Midtown usually averaging between 4 and 6 mph, according to the city’s Department of Transportation.

The idea behind congestion pricing is that when the cost of heavy traffic and pollution is put on drivers, it will encourage them to use public transportation, join carpools or reassess their routes, reducing the number of cars on the road and vehicle emissions."

Karla Marie Sanford and Kelsey Ables report for the Washington Post November 14, 2024. [2]