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Glossary termTolls, E-ZPass & congestion pricing

Congestion Zone (TLC)

In TLC rules the Congestion Zone is Manhattan below 96th Street. It sets the NYS congestion surcharge and Uber/Lyft cruising cap. Not the 60th St MTA zone.

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Definition

Congestion Zone

TLC's name for Manhattan south of 96th Street: the area for the NYS congestion surcharge and the Uber/Lyft cruising cap.

On this page (5)
  1. Why it matters to TLC drivers
  2. Where you will see this term
  3. Common mix-ups
  4. FAQ
  5. Sources

The Congestion Zone is a term in TLC rules. Chapter 51 defines it as "the geographic area of Manhattan south of and excluding 96th Street" (TLC Rules ch. 51). It is the area for the New York State congestion surcharge (since January 1, 2019) and for TLC's limit on how much Uber and Lyft cars cruise empty in Manhattan.

It is not the MTA's Congestion Relief Zone, which stops at 60th Street and started tolling in 2025.

Why it matters to TLC drivers

  1. It decides the state surcharge on your trips

    A trip that starts, ends or passes through the Congestion Zone carries the NYS congestion surcharge: $2.50 in a yellow taxi, $2.75 in other for-hire vehicles including green cabs and Uber/Lyft, $0.75 for a shared ride (as of October 12, 2026). No surcharge on Access-A-Ride or other MTA-dispatched trips.

  2. The surcharge is the passenger's, not yours

    TLC: 'The congestion surcharge cannot be taken out of the driver's pay, and must be passed on to the passenger(s).' Medallion owners and bases file it monthly with the NYS Tax Department.

  3. It sets the Uber/Lyft cruising cap

    TLC Rule §59D-21 ('Restrictions on Cruising Time in the Manhattan Core') says the share of time an app company's available cars spend cruising without a passenger in the Congestion Zone cannot exceed 31%, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday–Friday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday–Sunday. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are not counted.

  4. It is in the data the apps report

    Under §59D-14, high-volume companies report when and where a trip or an available car entered and left the Congestion Zone.

The cruising cap is a rule for the companies. The fine is $350 for each 100 hours over the limit, charged to the company. How each company meets the cap is up to the company.

What counts as "cruising" here is wider than many drivers expect. Under §59D-21(b), it is all the time an available car spends in the Congestion Zone without a passenger, including the drive to a pickup after you accept a request. If you are logged in to two apps at once, TLC splits your empty time between them based on how many zone trips each company dispatches (TLC Rules ch. 59). See the Uber/Lyft cruising cap.

Where you will see this term

  • TLC rule books (chapters 51 and 59) and TLC notices.
  • TLC's congestion surcharge page, which shows a map of Manhattan south of 96th Street (TLC).
  • TLC trip records, as the field congestion_surcharge ("Total amount collected in trip for NYS congestion surcharge," per TLC's data dictionaries).

Common mix-ups

  • Not a toll on your car. The Congestion Zone has no cameras and no daily toll. It is the area for a per-trip surcharge and a company rule.
  • "Manhattan Core" in the title of §59D-21 means the same area. The rule text itself uses "Congestion Zone."
  • The 96th Street line is "excluding." A trip that touches only 96th Street and above is outside.

Related: the MTA zone in Congestion Relief Zone and its boundaries; the MTA toll in Congestion Relief Zone toll; the bridges into it in East River bridges; trip data in congestion zone trip statistics and taxi and FHV entries. Main guide: congestion pricing for TLC drivers. Driving in Manhattan.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Congestion Zone in TLC rules?

TLC Rule Chapter 51 defines it as 'the geographic area of Manhattan south of and excluding 96th Street.' It is the area for the New York State congestion surcharge and for the cruising-time limit on Uber and Lyft.

Is the Congestion Zone the same as the Congestion Relief Zone?

No. The Congestion Relief Zone is the MTA's toll area: Manhattan at or below 60th Street, without the FDR Drive and West Side Highway. A trip that stays between 61st and 95th Streets is in the Congestion Zone but not in the Congestion Relief Zone.

What does a passenger pay for a trip in the Congestion Zone?

The NYS congestion surcharge: $2.50 on a yellow taxi trip, $2.75 on other for-hire trips including green cabs and Uber/Lyft, and $0.75 on a shared trip (as of October 12, 2026). TLC says it cannot be taken out of the driver's pay.

Does the cruising cap limit me as a driver?

The rule (§59D-21) is written for Uber and Lyft as companies: they must keep the share of time their available cars spend cruising empty in the zone at or below 31% at set hours. The fines go to the company. How each app meets it is the company's choice.

Sources

Last reviewed against the official sources on .

  1. TLC Rule Book Chapter 51 (Definitions) nyc.gov
  2. TLC: Congestion Surcharge nyc.gov
  3. TLC Rule Book Chapter 59 (For-Hire Vehicles, Bases, High-Volume) nyc.gov
  4. NYS Department of Taxation and Finance: Congestion surcharge tax.ny.gov

Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the official source.

TLC Help is not a law firm and is not affiliated with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission or OATH. Explanations on this site are general information, not legal advice. Legal representation is provided by independent attorneys and OATH-registered representatives in our network.

Related

Congestion Relief ZoneThe MTA's congestion toll area: Manhattan local streets at or below 60th Street, tolled since January 5, 2025.Congestion surchargeA New York State charge on taxi and for-hire trips in Manhattan below 96th Street: $2.50 taxi, $2.75 FHV, $0.75 shared.GuideCongestion Relief Zone Map: Boundaries for DriversWhere the congestion zone starts and ends: 60th Street included, the excluded highways, the 12 entry points, and the 38 taxi zones the MTA counts as inside.Read GuideThe Cruising Cap Below 96th Street, ExplainedTLC rule 59D-21 caps empty app-car time in Manhattan below 96th St at 31%. How cruising is counted, who is fined, the WAV exemption and what it means to you.Read GuideCongestion Pricing for TLC Drivers: Who Pays WhatTwo congestion charges apply to taxi and FHV trips in Manhattan. See the amounts, the zones, who pays, and why your pay should not go down because of them.Read TopicTolls, E-ZPass & Congestion Pricing for TLC DriversFour charges NYC drivers mix up: bridge and tunnel tolls, the MTA congestion toll, the state surcharge and airport fees. Who pays each, and every crossing.Read