Congestion Relief Zone Toll: Discounts and Exemptions

If you own a car, as of January 5, it will cost $9 every time you enter a “zone” between 60th Street and the lower tip of Manhattan. This will not include driving down West Street (Rt. 9A) or the FDR Drive. You may not have seen them, but New York State has installed cameras recording license plate numbers (or EZPass tags) at every downtown street corner at 60th Street and at every corner where one can turn off of West Street or the FDR Drive into the zone. (Yes, there are cameras at 12th Street, 10th Street, Christopher Street, etc.). If you drive within the zone, say from the Village to 57th Street, there is no toll, so long as you don’t take Rt. 9A.

However, some drivers and vehicles may qualify for discounts or exemptions from the Congestion Relief Zone toll. All of these require applications which are on the MTA website. If you qualify, don’t wait! Here are the key ones:

Low-Income Discount

A 50% discount is available for low-income vehicle owners enrolled in the Low-Income Discount Plan (LIDP). To qualify for LIDP, vehicle owners must have reported a federal adjusted gross income for the previous calendar year of no more than $50,000 or be enrolled in a qualifying government assistance program. This discount begins after the first 10 trips in a calendar month and applies to all peak period trips after that.

Low-Income Tax Credit for Residents

Residents of the Congestion Relief Zone (or formally known as the Central Business District) whose New York State adjusted gross income is under $60,000 may qualify for a tax credit in the amount of tolls paid.

Disability Exemptions

The Individual Disability Exemption Plan (IDEP) is available for individuals who have disabilities or health conditions that prevent them from using transit. IDEP can be applied to a vehicle registered to the applicant or to a vehicle registered to a person the applicant designates (such as a family member or a caregiver) if they use that vehicle to drive the applicant in the Congestion Relief Zone. If you care for a disabled person – someone who qualifies for Access-A-Ride – you can get this exemption.