DRIVERS have slammed new congestion pricing for hitting them with hefty fees.
Frustrated drivers are calling it a “scam” program after getting billed $9 for driving in certain areas of the city.
Only a month in, New York City Governor Kathy Hochul could be saying goodbye to her congestion toll pricing plan.
President Donald Trump is moving to terminate the entire program — and many New Yorkers are grateful.
“The congestion pricing is a scam,” tweeted one social media user.
The X user said NYC drivers faced “ridiculous” traffic rules — like mistimed traffic lights — that were created during former Mayor DeBlasio’s term.
The X user said these poorly thought-out laws have created “massive traffic surges” that New Yorkers still have to deal with today.
“All our roads in BK and QNS are still suffering from the congestion created to justify the fraudulent congestion pricing,” they added.
The governor implemented the congestion pricing on January 5, forcing city drivers to pay $9 every day and $2.25 overnight to get into Manhattan below 60th Street.
New Yorkers are demanding their money back.
“Tolls charged from yesterday onward will be found invalid and will have to be refunded,” one tweet read.
According to Trump, the program may not be in effect for much longer.
On Wednesday, Trump wrote “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD,” on Truth Social.
“Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
This could be an issue that all New Yorkers agree on regardless of their political lean.
“We are a nation of laws…and congestion pricing is awful,” one X user said.
NEW YORK CONGESTION TOLL
NEW York has become the first major US city to introduce a form of congestion pricing:
Starting January 5, 2025, most vehicles will have to pay a $9 congestion toll in parts of New York City. The affected area is everything south up to and including 60th Street in Manhattan, where Central Park starts. Only the FDR Drive, on the east side of the island, the West Side Highway, on the west side, and the Hugh L Carey Tunnel which connects them at the southern tip, will be excluded from congestion tolls, provided you don’t exit them into Manhattan at or below 60th Street. The idea is to reduce congestion in Manhattan, improve air quality, and fund the MTA. The toll affects the majority of cars, SUVs, small vans, and pickup trucks. Vehicles eligible for the toll must have an E-ZPass, which will charge them $9 once per day. That toll will go down to $2.25 during overnight hours. Peak traffic hours are between 5 am and 9 pm on weekdays, and between 9 am and 0 pm on weekends. Drivers without an E-ZPass will be mailed their bills and will have to pay more – $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 overnight. Motorcyclists will pay half what cars pay – $4.50 – during peak. Buses and trucks, depending on their size, will pay more. Exceptions include certain emergency vehicles, school buses, the disabled who are unable to take public transport, and those who transport them. Low-income drivers who pay the toll 10 times a month can apply for a 50% discount on trips they take for the rest of the month. Passengers in taxis and for-hire vehicles will have a per-trip surcharge added to their fares, working out at 75 cents for people taking taxis, green cabs, and black cars, and $1.50 for Uber or Lyft passengers.“Nobody wants it regardless of political side,” they added.
Governor Hochul is determined not to let the President axe the program so quickly, claiming there have already been positive results.
“Ever since congestion pricing started, traffic has decreased. Commuters are getting to work faster. Foot traffic to local businesses is spiking,” she said.
“I’m not going to let some wannabe king undermine our public transit system.”
Still, she faces pushback from other lawmakers who believe congestion pricing is hurting everyday Americans.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the program a “slap in the face” to working-class Americans and small business owners, especially.
The Department of Transportation and Governor Hochul’s office have not immediately replied to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
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