Congestion pricing isn’t so E-Z.

  The state’s E-ZPass website crashed Monday morning during the
  [1]Manhattan toll program’s first workweek rush hour.

  The technological traffic jam hit after MTA officials recommended
  motorists [2]make sure their E-ZPass accounts were up to date — and
  that their current license plate was linked to their account — or else
  potentially face mail-in tolls much higher than the $9 peak-hour base
  rate.

  [3]Congestion pricing toll signage during the first day of congestion
  pricing on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
  Congestion pricing’s base tolls are $9, and even higher without an
  E-ZPass. Michael Nagle

  [4]An error message on NY's E-ZPass site.
  A message greeted E-ZPass users during the first rush hour of
  congestion pricing Monday. E-ZPass

  “The E-ZPass NY website is currently experiencing higher than normal
  activity,” the message stated, informing would-be users they were put
  in a “waiting room.”

  The first-in-the-nation – and widely reviled – scheme kicked off
  Sunday, imposing tolls on motorists entering Manhattan south of 60th
  Street.

  Many drivers and opponents have railed against the congestion fees,
  which can be coupled with existing bridge and tunnel tolls, depending
  on where they enter Manhattan.

  Those driving passenger cars with an E-ZPass will receive a $3 credit
  if they enter the zone through the Lincoln, Queens-Midtown, Hugh L.
  Carey or Holland tunnels during peak hours.

  [5]Congestion pricing scanners and E-Zpass readers over 2nd Avenue
  during the first day of congestion pricing on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
  Motorists without an E-ZPass will have to pay extra to enter Manhattan
  under congestion pricing. Michael Nagle

  Without an E-ZPass, drivers traveling into Manhattan from New Jersey
  through the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels will have to fork over $31.81
  in congestion and bridge-and-tunnel tolls during peak hours.

  Aaron Donovan, deputy communications director for the MTA, said the
  E-ZPass site’s hiccup is related to heavy traffic of the online
  variety.

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  “When site usage levels increase quickly, there is a waiting room
  opened for users to queue briefly before being provided access to the
  site,” he said. “Technicians are managing the site so wait times
  generally remain under one minute. This method prevents the site from
  crashing.”

  The kerfuffle didn’t impede the traffic of online snark.

  “E-ZPass website is currently experiencing unexpected congestion,”
  [6]one X user wrote.

References

  1. https://nypost.com/2025/01/05/us-news/hochuls-9-nyc-congestion-tolls-set-to-roll-out-jan-5/
  2. https://new.mta.info/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/e-zpass
  3. file:///tmp/lynxXXXXbjwxqU/L2836397-4665TMP.html
  4. file:///tmp/lynxXXXXbjwxqU/L2836397-4665TMP.html
  5. file:///tmp/lynxXXXXbjwxqU/L2836397-4665TMP.html
  6. https://x.com/helplessdelta/status/1876294957822292408

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