The tolling program, the first of its kind in the nation, will charge most drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours a $9 fee.

The countdown to congestion pricing in New York City is almost over. Starting at midnight, most drivers will pay a toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.

Congestion pricing, embraced by other metropolises including London, Stockholm, and Singapore, is aimed at raising billions to modernize New York’s beleaguered mass transit system. Yet the scheme has been fiercely contested since it was first proposed in 2017.