On Jan. 5, 2025, the long-debated and fiercely contested policy of congestion pricing will come into effect in New York City.
With its passionate supporters and equally vocal detractors, the practice is expected to have far-reaching consequences for commuters, the transit system, the city, and the environment.
With the implementation of congestion pricing, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) hopes to raise money for highly ambitious upgrades to New York’s aging transit systems.
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about congestion pricing, what it portends, and why the policy still has outspoken proponents and detractors.
What Is Congestion Pricing?
Congestion pricing is a policy of charging a standard $9 fare to drivers of cars, SUVs, small vans, and pickup trucks entering Manhattan below 60th Street from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends….