The U.S. Transportation Department has approved New York’s plan to impose a $9 congestion charge for driving in Manhattan as from January 5, 2025.
This move is geared towards raising billions for mass transit and limiting traffic.
The congestion charge, the first of its kind in the United States, was reintroduced only last week by Governor Kathy Hochul after she had put it on indefinite hold since June.
The New York government plans to charge a $9 toll in daytime hours for passenger vehicles driving in Manhattan south of 60th Street. It jettisoned a previous plan to charge $15 that would have begun on 30 June this year.
London had in 2003 implemented a similar fee which has now risen to 15 pounds ($19).
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority expects that the toll will result in at least 80,000 fewer vehicles entering the zone daily, thus, “relieving crowding in what is today the most congested district in the United States.”
New York is speeding up processes to implement the charge before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. This may be due to the fact that Trump, who has a Manhattan residence, said last week that he strongly disagreed with the decision to implement the fee.
Trucks and buses will pay up to $21.60, and 75% discounts will be issued for traveling at night.
The fee will be charged once a day not minding how many trips are made for car owners, while taxis are expected to pay 75 cents per trip in the Manhattan zone. Uber or Lyft vehicles reserved by app will be paying $1.50 per trip.
