The new tolls are expected to generate another $1 billion yearly, which would be used to finance borrowing to upgrade the subway, bus and commuter rail systems operated by the MTA. People headed into Manhattan already pay big tolls to use many of the bridges and tunnels connecting the Hudson, East and Harlem Rivers.

Tolls in New York City are among the most expensive in the world in 2026 due to a combination of aging infrastructure maintenance, public transit funding, and the implementation of congestion pricing. Major crossings like the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge or the George Washington Bridge cost upwards of $15 to $20 for non-E-ZPass users because the revenue is used not only to maintain the massive bridges themselves but also to subsidize the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway and bus systems. Furthermore, in 2024 and 2025, NYC launched the "Congestion Relief Zone" in Lower Manhattan, which adds a peak-hour toll of approximately $9 to $15 for passenger vehicles entering the district below 60th Street. The goal is to reduce the crippling traffic gridlock that costs the city billions in lost productivity and to improve air quality. By making it expensive to drive, the city incentivizes the use of public transport. For many drivers, the high tolls are a "user fee" designed to manage the limited space on NYC’s streets, though it remains a highly controversial topic for commuters from the outer boroughs and New Jersey who have limited transit alternatives.