Congestion pricing in New York City is about to start after years of turmoil and legal challenges

NEW YORK -- New York City's congestion pricing initiative is set to launch, starting at midnight, requiring most drivers to pay a toll when entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. This decision follows a recent legal development where a judge dismissed a New Jersey lawsuit aimed at blocking the implementation of the toll.

The new tolls will be $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, with a reduced rate of $2.25 outside these peak hours, as announced by the MTA. This tolling plan has been in the works for years, facing various challenges and criticisms, with some supporting the initiative for its potential to alleviate traffic and others opposing it for perceived negative impacts.

Opinions from local residents reflect this divide. Some, like Upper West Side resident John Anatole, endorse the initiative, suggesting that it could benefit overall traffic flow and lamenting the delay in its implementation. Conversely, others express skepticism, arguing that the toll will not effectively reduce traffic and labeling it an unnecessary financial burden.

The recent legal battle concluded late Friday when a federal judge ruled that the New Jersey plaintiffs could not prove that the congestion pricing would cause irreparable harm. New Jersey attorneys argued that the new tolls could divert traffic towards the George Washington Bridge, negatively affecting local residents, but the judge found their claims unconvincing.

MTA chair Janno Lieber emphasized the need to move forward with the congestion pricing plan, stating that after extensive debates and legal challenges, it is now time to focus on making the initiative successful. This congestion pricing model marks the first of its kind in the United States, setting a precedent for urban traffic management strategies.