New York City appears to be heading towards a congestion pricing plan for Manhattan drivers.
The plan, which is expected to be adopted as early as April 1, would make New York the first U.S. city to charge drivers extra when they motor in the busiest neighborhoods. According to the New York Times, the premium would apply from 60th Street in Midtown Manhattan down to the Battery. The plan is not expected to start until 2021.
The fees, which could run over $10 per trip, would raise billions of dollars to fix the city’s subway system and reduce traffic on the city’s most clogged streets. Congestion pricing has already been adopted abroad in London, Stockholm and Singapore, among other places.
Fees would be higher at peak times, and reduced during off hours. Fees would be charged through an electronic tolling system, most likely expanding upon existing technology used for cashless tolling at bridges and tunnels in the region.
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