New York City drivers pay extra to ease congestion

New York City is the nation’s first plan to charge high rates for vehicular access to Manhattan’s most-visited areas as part of an effort to reduce traffic, improve air quality and raise money for the city. received significant approval from the federal government for public transport.

The program could start as early as spring 2024, putting New York City in line with the likes of London, Singapore and Stockholm, which have introduced similar pricing structures for highly congested business districts.

In one of several pricing scenarios being considered, drivers could be charged up to $23 per day when entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, but the exact amount is A decision has yet to be made by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the long-overdue plan.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Monday that the congestion pricing plan has cleared the final federal hurdle with approval from the Federal Highway Administration.

“With the federal government’s approval, we look forward to moving forward with the implementation of this program,” Ho-chol, a Democrat, said in a statement.

People heading to Manhattan are already paying hefty fees to use many of the bridges and tunnels across the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers. The special rate for the southern half of Manhattan will be on top of existing rates.

The new toll is expected to generate an additional $1 billion annually, which will be used to finance borrowings to upgrade subway, bus and commuter rail systems operated by the MTA.

The state legislature approved a conceptual plan for congestion pricing in 2019, but the coronavirus pandemic combined with a lack of guidance from federal regulators has stalled the project.

The plan is fiercely opposed by New Jersey officials and could make commuting more expensive for people driving to Manhattan. Taxis and car service drivers are also protesting, saying they will be unable to pay their fares. Among the MTA’s proposals is a cap on the cost of taxis and other rental cars.