New York State introduced the Congestion Relief Zone toll on January 5, 2025. The toll is essentially a fare where anyone who is using a vehicle to get into New York City’s busiest streets on Manhattan including 60 Street must pay. With an EZ-pass it costs $9 during peak hours and $2.25 on off peak hours. Without an EZ-pass it’ll cost much more. The CEO of the MTA introduced this toll to encourage people to use public transportation, fund other infrastructure projects and to reduce gridlock.
As a native New Yorker, especially one that lived and grew up in New York City, this congestion toll hurts everyone. While I do agree that traffic in NYC is the worst, it is a sign that business is thriving. With the toll it may discourage tourists and visitors to go to Manhattan and thus, negatively affect businesses. On top of having to Uber which is a hefty price, the addition to the toll fee will increase that. Even with the toll business on the road such as commercial trucks need to use that area to transport supplies, materials, etc. It will still remain busy even with the toll.
The Eagles’ Cry interviewed Ms. Costello, a Bethpage Language teacher, who resides in New York City and Lauren Kelly, a BHS senior, on her opinion on the Congestion Relief Zone.
TEC: How does the toll affect you and what’s your opinion on it?
Ms Costello: “I don’t drive to Manhattan often but it would really impact me when I leave the city and travel. The way I would go out of the city would not really use the direction to the congestion pricing area so it wouldn’t impact me.”
Lauren Kelly: “I don’t think that there should be a toll especially when people use it to commute. Personally it won’t affect me that much and I have a lot of family members from Manhattan so it’ll affect seeing them. I definitely think people would find ways to get into the city without paying.”
Manhattan which is the heart of New York City may affect how the locals and tourists visit. We hope it brings a positive impact and change it may bring to the MTA and Manhattan.
