New York Has Implemented Urban Tolls

New York makes a historic breakthrough by becoming the first city in the United States to introduce an urban toll for vehicles.

From now on, drivers in New York will be required to pay a daily fee that can reach up to $9, while differentiated rates apply to other types of vehicles.

According to the plan, most drivers will pay $9 to enter the zone during peak hours and $2.25 outside of these times. Small trucks and buses not used for daily transportation will pay $14.40, while large trucks and tourist buses will be subject to a fee of $21.60.

The affected area, south of Central Park, includes iconic locations such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Wall Street financial district. This measure aims to reduce the city’s legendary traffic jams and, incidentally, generate billions of dollars in revenue for public services.

Initially supported by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul two years ago, the project has faced several delays and adjustments following criticism. The initiative faces strong opposition, notably from taxi driver associations. However, it is former President Donald Trump’s opposition that makes the most noise. Trump has promised to abolish the toll once in office this month. Aside from a clear lack of enthusiasm for environmental initiatives, the elected president—born in New York—owns a substantial property portfolio in the Big Apple.

A court, however, rejected last Friday an attempt by neighboring New Jersey to block the project over environmental impact concerns. This measure comes as New York has been designated for the second consecutive year as the most congested city in the world. In the city center, the average vehicle speed reached only 17 km/h during morning rush hours in 2023.

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