In New York, starting this Sunday (5), drivers will start paying tolls when entering the central region of Manhattan during peak hours, the fare charged is US$9.
The automatic charging zone covers the entire central and southern part of Manhattan, on all streets below 60th Street, on the border of Central Park.
Neighborhoods such as Midtown, Village, Chinatown, High Line, Chelsea and Wall Street, among others, are part of the toll area.
Known as congestion pricing, the toll aims to reduce traffic in the increasingly populated city and, at the same time, raise funds to invest in New York’s public transport infrastructure.
In an interview, the president and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Janno Lieber, said that he has been studying this issue for five years, but that the traffic problem in downtown Manhattan is notable.
“We need to make it easier for people who choose to drive, or who need to drive, to get around the city.”
Around 700,000 vehicles circulate through the region every day, according to the municipal transport department.
During peak hours, drivers in small commercial vehicles will be charged a fee of US$9, while motorcyclists will pay US$4.50 and the fee for trucks and buses varies between US$14.40 and US$21.60. , depending on size and function.
Each vehicle will be charged via the E-ZPass system only once per day.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end the program when he takes office, but it is unclear whether he will follow through. The plan stalled during his first term as he waited for a federal environmental review.
In November, Trump said congestion pricing “will put New York City at a disadvantage relative to competing cities and states, and businesses will flee.”
“It will be virtually impossible for New York City to return while the congestion tax is in effect.”
Other major cities around the world, such as London and Stockholm, have similar congestion pricing schemes, but this is the first in the US.
The measure was scheduled for last year, with a $15 charge, but Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul halted the program before the 2024 election, when races in suburban areas of the city were vital for her party to regain control of the city. Congress.
Shortly after the election, Hochul restarted the plan, but with a lower amount.
