The MTA held a cheery celebration to unveil a new “Congestion Relief Zone” sign in Manhattan, just hours before drivers will feel the pain as the controversial toll goes into effect in the Big Apple.
The agency’s CEO Janno Lieber seemed to have no concern for the many lawsuits and pleas from commuters aiming to stop the new $9 toll, as he personally unveiled a toll sign Saturday at one of the entry points to the zone at Broadway and W. 61st St.
Video shared by the MTA on social media shows a small crowd of toll supporters and elected officials cheering Lieber as he stood in a crane and revealed the new price sign.
Despite the cheers, the celebration drew online jeers from opponents of the toll — which begins at midnight.
“How do you cheer for this,” one person commented on Instagram.
Another wrote: “Who’s celebrating bro… like who is happy to pay more ugh.”
Some found the tone of the celebration distasteful in light of the financial strain it will put on many commuters.
NYC’s congestion pricing toll is finally ready to be unveiled. Christopher Sadowski“We ain’t happy about this, just put the sign up and go about y’all day. No unveiling necessary,” another Instagram user wrote.
Despite the criticism, Lieber took time to boast last Saturday about the contentious plan as something that will improve safety, pollution and traffic conditions.
“We’ve been working on this for five years but if you stand in Midtown for five minutes you know we have to deal with the traffic problem,” he said.
“Now we’re showing the world that in New York we do something about our challenges.”
Follow along with The Post's coverage of Manhattan's new congestion pricing
- New York became the most expensive city to drive in when its congestion pricing began Sunday. New Yorkers now must pay $9 to drive below 60th Street during peak hours.
- Some drivers have begun concealing their plates in an effort to avoid the toll. Some residents of the area are saddled with the cost whenever they want to take their car out.
- Businesses, like funeral homes, have begun shifting the cost to customers. Rideshare app Lyft raised its CitiBike prices for New Yorkers hoping to avoid taking a car. The FDNY union and EMT union claim that congestion pricing will slow down their response times, as well.
- Many New Yorkers are skeptical about congestion pricing’s effects, especially after multiple publicized crimes on the subway in recent weeks. Drivers are expected to dump their cars above the zone, making parking more difficult uptown.
Tonight at the stroke of 12, the agency will begin charging passenger vehicles $9 during peak hours of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
MTA CEO Janno Lieber personally unveiled a sign showing the new $9 dollar toll at one of the entry points to the zone in lower Manhattan. Christopher SadowskiMotorists will be charged $2.25 during all other times to enter Manhattans’ busiest neighborhoods south of 60th Street.
Tolls for those not using an E-Zpass will be higher.
Small trucks will be charged $14.40 during peak hours while large trucks will be charged $21.60.
The new congestion pricing will be the first of its kind in the nation.
Money generated by the toll is expected to provide $15 billion toward MTA capital projects.
