Saturday, March 22, 2025
New York City’s congestion pricing program has begun! After much political push-pull, this unbearable tax is upon us all. As far north as 60th Street in Manhattan — Central Park — is included in this over-reaching, overpriced tax that hits drivers and train riders alike going into Manhattan, but luckily, not as they are leaving Manhattan.
Now, during weekday peak hours, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., there is a $9 increase, a $2.25 increase in off-peak commuting. Weekend peak hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This doesn’t just apply to someone driving south in Manhattan; if you are headed into Manhattan on the Queensboro (60th Street, Central Park), Williamsburg (Lower East Side), Manhattan (Canal Street), or Brooklyn Bridge, or the Lincoln, Holland, Hugh Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) or Queens-Midtown Tunnel, you are paying this new tax.
To add insult to injury, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority just increased all the tolls, unrelated to congestion pricing, on all of New York City’s bridges. So, if you are using the George Washington, Bayonne or Goethals Bridge or the Outerbridge Crossing, you will have to pay an increase there as well.
Originally sold to New Yorkers as a plan to save the environment, congestion pricing is nothing more than just another money grab to bail out the inept and ever-failing MTA. The agency has always been mismanaged, but its current chair, Janno Lieber, has proven particularly tone-deaf. He made a comment just days after a woman was burned to death on the subway, that crime on the subways was just “in people’s heads” and that it isn’t a huge issue. His total disregard for his customers’ sense of safety is appalling, and only confirms his inability to oversee public transportation.
The MTA did no customer service survey to see how it could accommodate commuters by expanding train service, because the truth is, Lieber doesn’t care. With all these toll increases, he’s taking your money no matter what method of travel you choose.
For all these reasons, I am co-sponsoring legislation with my fellow senators from Long Island that would permanently end congestion pricing, force the MTA to be independently audited, and create a financial control board to take control of the agency’s finances. We have paid enough into this failed authority, and it’s time for the riders to take control of this runaway train.
Alexis Weik represents the 8th State Senate District. She previously served as receiver of taxes for the Town of Islip.
