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How to Avoid NYC Congestion Pricing: Tips for Drivers


Starting Sunday, New York City will implement congestion pricing, a system designed to reduce traffic in Manhattan’s busiest areas while generating funds for public transportation improvements. Drivers will face fees for entering Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ), which includes all areas south of 60th Street, excluding certain highways.

Here’s what you need to know about the program, toll costs, exemptions, and ways to avoid fees:

What Is Congestion Pricing?

Congestion pricing uses electronic tolling to charge vehicles entering specific zones to alleviate traffic and fund transit upgrades.

The CRZ encompasses all streets below 60th Street, but major highways like the FDR Drive and West Side Highway, as well as certain connector roads, are exempt.

How to Avoid Congestion Pricing Fees

  1. Use Public Transit
    • Public transportation is the most straightforward way to avoid tolls.
    • The MTA has enhanced service on at least 23 bus routes, prioritizing connections from the outer boroughs.
    • Expanded service includes express bus routes in Staten Island (SIM1C, SIM4C, SIM23, SIM24) and Brooklyn (BM2, BM5). Local Staten Island routes like S46/96 and S79 SBS have also been adjusted for shorter wait times.
    • These improvements are funded by the Outer Borough Transportation Account, providing $50 million annually to bolster transit services outside Manhattan.
  2. Take Exempt Roads
    • Drivers can use the FDR Drive and West Side Highway, which are fully exempt from the tolls.
    • Roads connecting the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to these highways are also toll-free.
  3. Enter North of 60th Street
    • Drivers entering Manhattan north of the CRZ boundary can bypass the tolls.
    • Bridges like the George Washington Bridge and RFK Bridge deposit vehicles outside the zone.

Also Read – 10 Things Only True New Mexicans Understand About Living in the Land of Enchantment

Toll Costs

Fees vary based on the time of day, vehicle type, and payment method:

  • Daytime Rates (5 a.m.–9 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. on weekends):
    • Passenger vehicles with E-ZPass: $9 (once per day)
    • Motorcycles: $4.50
    • Small trucks/non-commuter buses: $14.40
    • Large trucks/sightseeing buses: $21.60
  • Tolls by Mail (starting January):
    • Passenger vehicles: $13.50
    • Motorcycles: $6.75
  • Overnight Discounts (9 p.m.–5 a.m. weekdays, 9 p.m.–9 a.m. weekends):
    • Passenger vehicles with E-ZPass: $2.25
    • Motorcycles: $1.05

Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a 75% toll reduction overnight to encourage nighttime deliveries.

Credits and Discounts

  1. Crossing Credits
    • Drivers entering the CRZ via specific tunnels will receive credits:
      • $3 for the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels
      • $1.50 for the Brooklyn-Battery and Queens-Midtown Tunnels
  2. Income-Based Discounts
    • Drivers earning under $50,000 annually will get a 50% discount after their first 10 trips each month.
  3. Exemptions
    • Emergency vehicles and vehicles transporting people with disabilities are exempt.
    • Tax credits are available for residents living in the CRZ earning under $60,000.
  4. Disability Discounts
    • The MTA offers reduced rates for those with disabilities or medical conditions preventing transit use.

Final Thoughts

Congestion pricing aims to ease traffic and fund essential transit upgrades, but it introduces new costs for drivers entering Manhattan’s CRZ. To minimize expenses, consider public transit, exempt routes, or alternate entry points. For more details on discounts and exemptions, visit the MTA’s website.



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