The first US car charging system went live in New York.
Motorists will pay up to $9 (£7) a day, with varying rates for other vehicles.
The density area includes the area south of central park, taking in well-known landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and the financial district around Wall Street.
The plan aims to alleviate New York’s notorious traffic problems and raise billions for the public transit network, but has faced opposition, including from popular New Yorkers and President-elect Donald Trump.
The congestion charge was first raised by New York state Governor Kathy Hochul two years ago, but was delayed and revised following complaints from some commuters and businesses.
The new plan revives one program he suspended in June, saying it had “many unintended consequences for New Yorkers”.
Most drivers will be charged $9 once a day to enter the congestion zone during peak hours, and $2.25 at other times.
Small trucks and non-passenger buses will pay $14.40 to enter Manhattan during peak hours, while large trucks and tourist buses will pay a $21.60 toll.
The case has faced a lot of opposition, including taxi drivers’ associations.
But its most vocal opposition comes from Trump, a New York native who has vowed to kill the program when he returns to office this month.
Local Republicans are already asking him to intervene.
Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a district north of New York City, asked Trump in November to commit to “ending this senseless price cap once and for all”.
A judge rejected an eleventh-hour effort on Friday by officials in the neighboring state of New Jersey to block the project on the grounds of its environmental impact in nearby areas.
Last year, New York City was named the world’s most congested urban area for the second year in a row, according to INRIX, a traffic data analysis firm.
Traffic in midtown Manhattan averaged 11 mph (17 km/h) during the morning hours in the first quarter of last year, the report said.
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