New York becomes first US city to impose congestion toll

Traveling in New York City is already very expensive, but officials imposing a toll of $15 to $36 on the entry of vehicles such as cars, buses and trucks into traffic-heavy areas of New York would reduce access to the busiest part of Manhattan . It became even more expensive. Collection of congestion toll will be started from mid-June. New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) voted on Wednesday to impose tolls, with 11 votes in favor and only one against. Congestion tolls are intended to encourage people to use public transportation more and reduce traffic congestion in Midtown and Lower Manhattan, thereby reducing overall pollution.

The MTA plans to raise more than $1 billion from congestion tolls, which will be used to renovate subway stations. These stations will be made more accessible, subway signals will be modernized and the system will be expanded.

Congestion toll will be charged for the first time in any American city

This is the first time that a congestion toll has been imposed in an American city. However, federal approval would be required and a toll collection system would have to be devised. At present such arrangements are in place in London, Stockholm and Singapore. In December 2017, authorities in the US state of Virginia imposed a toll on solo drivers using the highway during peak hours.

How much congestion toll will be collected from which vehicles?

Passenger vehicles and small commercial vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street from Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey must pay a toll of $15 during the day and $3.75 at night. Trucks and sightseeing buses will be charged congestion charges of $24 and $36 per day, respectively. Taxis will charge passengers $1.25 per trip.