New York City launched a controversial toll system in some parts of the city on Sunday. It thus became the first city in the United States. As a result of the move, which is supposed to reduce traffic jams in the densely populated city and at the same time raise money for the repair of the public transport infrastructure, according to the AFP agency, local authorities have come into conflict with the elected US President Donald Trump, writes TASR.
Daily toll
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans for the new system back in November. According to him, drivers entering areas of the borough of Manhattan south of Central Park will pay a daily toll of nine dollars.
The amount of the fee varies depending on the time of day and whether drivers have an electronic toll card, which is used in many US states. In addition, there are a number of exceptions, such as a discount program for people with low incomes or for drivers who enter the toll zone more than ten times a month, AFP explained. According to her, similar systems have been used for years in other big cities, including London and Stockholm.
With the project, Hochulova renewed her original plan, which called for a basic fee of $15, and which she suspended in June on the grounds that it had “too many unintended consequences for the people of New York.” However, according to her, the assessment showed that the system could work even with lower fees.
The Republican challenge to Trump
GOP lawmakers have already called on Trump, a native New Yorker, to intervene to end the project. Trump promised during the pre-election campaign that he would tick him off if elected president.
Neighborhoods adjacent to the most populous city in the US have previously expressed concern that the tolls will hurt local businesses and make it harder for residents to commute to Manhattan.
Officials from the neighboring state of New Jersey unsuccessfully asked a judge to block the toll plan because of its environmental impact in nearby areas. His rejection of the request on Friday allowed the implementation of the system, which has previously run into other legal problems, according to AFP.
The project was also objected by some elected representatives of New York City districts or an influential business group representing carriers. Taxi drivers’ associations also opposed the plan.
AFP writes that up to 700,000 vehicles enter the area affected by the fees daily. According to the authorities, cars can drive only 11 kilometers per hour in the resulting traffic jams and even slower in other areas.
