New York City becomes first U.S. city to impose $15 congestion charge

Daytime truck and tour bus fares $24 to $36 (typical)

Traveling in New York is already expensive, and it’s getting worse: Transit authorities have approved a controversial $15 toll on motorists entering Manhattan’s busiest areas, which will take effect in mid-June.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors voted 11 to 1 on Wednesday to impose tolls, a move aimed at encouraging people to use public transportation and easing traffic pressure in midtown and lower Manhattan, thereby reducing pollution.

The fee is the first of its kind in a U.S. city and is similar to existing programs in London, Stockholm and Singapore. It must first receive approval from the federal government and a fee collection system must be established.

Passenger and small commercial vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street from Queens, Brooklyn and neighboring New Jersey will pay $15 during the day and $3.75 at night – in addition to bridge or tunnel tolls already incurred.

Truck and tour bus fares range from $24 to $36 during the day, with lower rates at night. The MTA said taxis will charge passengers $1.25 per trip into the zone, and ride-sharing apps like Uber will be authorized to charge $2.50 per trip.

Only emergency vehicles, vehicles carrying disabled passengers and specialized city vehicles are exempt. Low-income drivers living in congested areas will be eligible for reduced fares.

MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber called the vote “one of the most important the board has ever taken” and said in a statement: “The MTA is ready.”

In preparation, service on 12 subway lines was enhanced, the bus network was redesigned and commuter rail service on Long Island was enhanced, the transit authority said.

The MTA hopes to raise more than $1 billion through new tolls to renovate subway stations to make them more accessible, modernize subway signals and fund system expansion.

“One of the biggest goals is to finally solve the congestion problem, but the other side is investing more in transportation,” Lieber said.

But critics, especially already-stressed commuters, are outraged by the new tolls, and several lawsuits are already underway.

In December 2017, authorities in Virginia imposed tolls on lone commuters using Interstate 66 to travel to the capital, Washington, D.C., during rush hours, but New York will become the first U.S. city to impose a congestion charge.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)