NYC now most expensive US city to drive into after $9 congestion toll ups driver costs to $27

With the introduction of congestion pricing, New York City has become the most expensive US city to drive into — costing car drivers up to $27 in fees just to enter Manhattan.

That’s more than double the $10.25 maximum charge to enter San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, or the $7.80 maximum Skyway charge to enter Chicago.

In NYC it now costs drivers of two-axle cars between $9 and $20 with an E-ZPass and $13.50 to $27 without to enter or drive into the “Congestion Zone,” as The Post’s map shows. Larger vehicles and trucks pay even more.

Vehicles that stay on the FDR Drive or the West Side Highway will be excluded, as will vehicles on the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street.  Donna Grace/NY Post

With over 700,000 vehicles enter the congestion charge area in Manhattan daily per MTA figures, it equates to at least $4 million per day in toll revenue for the agency.

Here’s a look at how toll prices for driving a two axle car into other major US cities compares:

NYC’s congestion toll is most expensive during peak hours, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Michael Nagle

San Francisco

Tolls: $8 to $10.25

The closest comparison to New York is San Francisco, also located on a bay and accessed by numerous bridges.

The cost of crossing depends on which bridge the road user takes, but all bay area bridges cost $8, apart from the Golden Gate Bridge which is $9.25 with a FasTrak pass, or $10.25 without.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) spokesperson Rebecca Long told The Post: “The toll on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for a passenger vehicle is currently $8 and has just increased by $1, the final increment of a $3 voter approved toll increase from 2018.”

However, she warned prices increases on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and six other state-owned toll bridges will rise by an additional $2.50.

“This increase begins in 2026 and will grow by $0.50 per year through 2030,” she added.

Toll rates in San Francisco remain the same no matter the time of day a vehicle crosses.

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and other state-owned toll bridges have a 50% discount for carpools and qualifying clean air vehicles during weekday commute times. The Golden Gate Bridge carpool/clean air vehicle discount is just $2, so a toll of $7.25 with FasTrak. JFL Photography – stock.adobe.com

Chicago

Tolls: $7.80 to $10

The Windy City is home to the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge – also known as the “Skyway” – a 7.8-mile-long toll road that connects the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago’s South Side.  

The Skyway’s tolls increased this month, with drivers of two axel cars now paying $7.80 per trip, up from $7.20, during peak and off-peak times.

The roadway has also brought further increases for drivers of trucks and other large vehicles. For those vehicles, higher rates will vary depending on the time of day and how many axles they have.

The state’s toll roads are categorized as a user-free system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance or operations, according to Illinois Tollway.

The cost for tolls in Illinois varies based on the toll road, type of vehicle and time of day, but on the Veterans Memorial Tollway, Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway, Illinois Tri-State Tollway and Jane Addams Memorial Tollway charges are usually between $5 and $10, according to car rental company Sixt.

Traffic in downtown Chicago, one of the country’s biggest cities, which can be accessed by toll roads. f11photo – stock.adobe.com

Houston

Tolls: Up to $15

Harris County, which takes in Houston, is the most populous county in Texas and the city often suffers gridlock.

The Grand Parkway System is one of the newest toll roads connecting commuters to Houston but, along with others like it in the area, the cost is variable depending on what kind of vehicle you drive and which points you enter, pass through and exit.

A trip on the full loop of the Sam Houston Tollway which circles the city will cost $14.40 or $12 if you have a TxTag auto-pay system in your car, according to turnpikeinfo.com.

However, many free routes into the city exist and typical toll road users report paying between $1.50 and $3 per day.

In 2023, Harris County commissioners unanimously voted to drop the prices of tolls across several tolling points.

Driving on toll roads across the Houston area is now a little cheaper since prices were reduced in 2023. SeanPavonePhoto – stock.adobe.com

“Toll roads in Harris County are not funded by tax dollars,” Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) spokesperson Tracy Jackson told The Post.

“They are funded through a user fee (tolls) in exchange for a service only paid by those who chose to use the toll roads. Toll road usage is voluntary … A continuous funding stream is needed to maintain the toll roads.”

According to Jackson, toll roads are a necessity when it comes to “solving congestion and mobility challenges”.

“Harris County has experienced an explosive population growth and that means more demand on our roadways,” she said.

“Because there are limits to federal and state transportation funding and taxes collected cannot keep pace with demand, toll roads provide a viable option to build and maintain roads.”

Norfolk, Virginia

Tolls: $21  

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel connects Virginia Beach to Cape Charles, Virginia, and is a major route into Norfolk, which comes with a steep toll which is $21 in peak season from May 15 to September 15 and $16 at all other times.

The 17.6 mile long structure combines bridges and two tunnels to save motorists a 95 mile round trip between Hampton Roads and the Delaware Valley.

However, the city’s website points out: “The cost per mile for passenger cars on the CBBT is the lowest cost-per-mile for tolled marine crossings in the region.”

The congestion charge toll zone has been applied to Manhattan below 60th street and charges all road users who enter it. Getty Images

Los Angeles

Tolls: No mandatory charges

Los Angeles has no mandatory roads tolls for road users. However the city offers HOV and express lanes which have a varying cost depending on the level of traffic, ranging from $0.10 per mile to $2.40 per mile.

Los Angeles is one of the most congested and traffic heavy gridlocked cities in the nation. It offers certain lanes for a pay-per-mile charge, but has no dedicated toll roads. blvdone – stock.adobe.com

Atlanta

Tolls: No mandatory charges

The Georgia Express Lanes allow commuters to avoid traffic gridlock throughout the Metro Atlanta area.

There are four Express Lane facilities: I-75 South, I-75 Northwest Corridor (NWC), I-85 Express Lanes and I-85 Extension.

As demand for use of the lanes increases, the toll amount rises, according to Georgia’s electronic tolling system, PeachPass – established with the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA).

The minimum toll rate for all Georgia Express Lanes is $0.10 per mile. SeanPavonePhoto – stock.adobe.com

The toll rate for all Georgia Express Lanes is $0.10 – 0.90 per mile during peak hours, depending on travel conditions at each express lane facility rather than a predetermined max rate, according to the SRTA. During periods of very low demand, per mile toll rates on an express lane facility may be replaced with a fixed toll of $0.50 per trip, regardless of the length of the trip. The flat rate is also applied outside of peak hours.

Drivers can see the posted toll amount before entering, allowing them to decide whether they want to use the lanes.