New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s first-in-the-nation “congestion pricing” system charges residents and out-of-state commuters in Midtown Manhattan a whopping $9 toll, officially ticking off everyone left in the state (and even New Jersey!) who wasn’t already wildly displeased with Hochul.
Congestion pricing kicks in anywhere south of 60th Street during “peak hours,” which are pretty much all day long. On weekdays, “peak hours” are considered 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on weekends 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. And there’s still a toll for off-hours, though it’s reduced.
Not to mention, the $9 tax is just the starting off point: by 2028, the toll jumps to $12, and by 2031, drivers are looking at a $15 charge. For those who regularly drive in the area, the toll could shake out to thousands of dollars a year. Some New Jersey commuters will be paying around $5,700 in tolls with the…
