It’s official! Starting this summer, congestion pricing will be the new reality for Bronx drivers heading into parts of Manhattan.
Following a public hearing, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board voted in favor of the long-awaited plan today. Most cars driving into Manhattan below 60th Street will have to pay a $15 fee. Taxis and ride-shares will pay up to $2.50. Depending on size, trucks will be required to shell out anywhere between $24 and $36. Some vehicles that will be exempt from the congestion pricing toll include DOE-contracted school buses, commuter buses and government and city vehicles.
Some New Yorkers have embraced the plan, saying less traffic, cleaner air and MTA improvements are worth the price. Bronx drivers told News 12 the opposite.
"It’s not a good idea," said one driver in the Baychester section. "It’s hard to make a living. Maybe lower the price down, but not $15."
For those who take Lyft or Uber, a $2.50 additional charge will be added to your bill. Taxi rides will see a $1.50 surcharge.
If everything goes to plan, the MTA says it will enact the new tolling system by mid-June.