Congestion pricing is here in Manhattan below 60th Street, affecting commuters throughout the five boroughs and beyond.

For commuters coming from New Jersey and points north of the Bronx, here’s how the new rules could impact your travels.

First, a refresher: What is congestion pricing?

Congestion pricing is a policy in which drivers who enter local streets and avenues south of and including 60th Street in Manhattan will be charged a fee. 

The fee for passenger cars will be $9 with E-ZPass during the “peak hours” of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The toll will be lowered to $2.25 during overnight hours for passenger cars with E-ZPass.

Read more about the full congestion pricing plan here. 

Will I get charged if I plan to drive only on highways in Manhattan?

The West Side Highway and the FDR Drive, the two major highways running through the congestion zone, are exempt from the fee.

However, you will be tolled if you exit either highway onto local streets and avenues within the congestion zone.

Which crossings into Manhattan will I get tolled for taking?

Below are scenarios specific to various crossings. Keep in mind that existing non-congestion pricing tolls for MTA and Port Authority bridges and tunnels still apply, but vehicles with E-ZPass will get a credit that reduces the congestion pricing toll when they enter Manhattan via the Lincoln, Holland, Queens-Midtown and Hugh L. Carey tunnels during peak hours.

“The credit amount will be up to $3 for passenger vehicles, up to $1.50 for motorcycles, up to $7.20 for small trucks and charter buses, and up to $12 for large trucks and tour buses,” the MTA says.

George Washington Bridge (New Jersey to Manhattan)

The George Washington Bridge lets vehicles enter Manhattan north of the congestion zone. You will only be charged a congestion pricing fee if you enter Manhattan on or south of 60th Street on a residential street.

If your destination is south of 60th Street and requires driving on residential streets, you will need to pay the fee.

For example:

  • Not Charged: Traveling from the bridge to the West Side Highway or into Harlem.
  • Charged: Driving from the bridge onto residential streets in Midtown or below, even if parking in a garage along the highway.

If you are crossing the George Washington Bridge with the goal of taking the West Side Highway and leaving Manhattan via the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, you will not be charged a congestion fee unless you drive on residential streets south of 60th Street, as the West Side Highway is exempt from tolls. 

Lincoln Tunnel (New Jersey to Manhattan)

The Lincoln Tunnel lets vehicles out onto residential streets south of 60th Street. All drivers entering Manhattan through this tunnel will be charged a congestion pricing fee.

If you are exiting Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel and your trip did not begin in the congestion zone, you will also be charged, as residential streets are required to access the tunnel. 

Holland Tunnel (New Jersey to Manhattan)

The Holland Tunnel also connects directly to residential streets south of 60th Street. Drivers entering Manhattan via this tunnel will be charged a congestion pricing fee.

The same rules apply for drivers leaving Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel: You will be charged unless your trip started within the congestion zone.

Highways north of the Bronx to Manhattan

Drivers coming from points north of the Bronx using the Major Deegan Expressway, the Henry Hudson Parkway and other highways will enter Manhattan north of the congestion zone. As with other points of entry, you will not pay a congestion fee unless you travel on or south of 60th Street on a residential street.

For example: 

  • Not Charged: Traveling from the Major Deegan Expressway to the West Side Highway or FDR Drive north of 60th Street.
  • Charged: Traveling from the Henry Hudson Parkway onto streets and avenues in Midtown or Lower Manhattan.

What if I’m not traveling in the Manhattan congestion pricing zone?

If you are traveling between, for example, New Jersey and Westchester County, or New Jersey and Queens, without entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, you will not be charged a congestion pricing fee. However, tolls on bridges and tunnels still apply.

What public transit options do I have to get into Manhattan?

For New Jersey commuters:

New Jersey commuters have several public transit options to avoid driving into Manhattan and paying congestion pricing fees:

  • NJ Transit trains and buses
    • Trains: NJ Transit operates several train lines connecting New Jersey to Penn Station in Manhattan. Popular lines include the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Morris and Essex lines. Fares depend on distance traveled.
    • Buses: NJ Transit buses serve many parts of New Jersey, with routes leading directly into Manhattan’s Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street. Similar to train fares, the cost depends on the distance traveled, and passes must be purchased in advance.
  • PATH trains
    • The PATH system is another option for commuters traveling between New Jersey and Manhattan. Popular lines connect hubs including Hoboken, Jersey City and Newark to multiple Manhattan locations, including the World Trade Center and 33rd Street. The flat fare is $2.75.
  • Ferries
    • Operators like NY Waterway and Seastreak provide service from terminals such as Hoboken, Weehawken and Edgewater to Midtown and downtown Manhattan. Fares vary depending on destination, with monthly passes available for frequent riders.

For commuters from points north of the Bronx:

Commuters traveling from areas north of the Bronx also have public transit options:

  • Metro-North Railroad
    • Metro-North trains connect commuters in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, as well as parts of Connecticut, to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines offer frequent service. Fares vary by distance, starting at $5 during off-peak hours or $7 during peak hours if you’re traveling strictly within city limits. Weekly and monthly passes and 10-trip tickets are available.
  • Bee-Line Buses
    • Westchester County's Bee-Line buses also connect suburban neighborhoods to parts of the Bronx, providing access to some subway stations. Fares start at $2.75, and some routes terminate at MTA-operated subway stations. The transit system also operates express buses to Manhattan, with fares starting at $7.50.