As traffic rises, New York plans to implement congestion tolling
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is planning to implement a congestion tolling system in much of Manhattan before President-elect Donald Trump, who opposes the concept, takes office.
Hochul wants to institute a $9 toll beginning in January to motorists entering Manhattan’s central business district that runs from 60th Street to the southern end of the island. The funds would be used to finance upgrades and maintenance for the city’s public transit system.
New York City is the world’s most-congested urban area according to one traffic-data analysis firm. Nationwide, traffic and congestion have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels in most major U.S. metropolitan areas.
The total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) rose 12% between May 2019 and May 2024, reaching record levels. VMT is rising faster now than it did when driving levels first rebounded from the pandemic in 2021. This trend is worrying for advocates working to reform transportation, the largest source of U.S. carbon emissions.