While New York is the first US city to impose such a toll, London implemented one in 2003, and the fee is now 15 pounds (US$19). Sarah Kaufman, director of New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation, said Monday that the experience of other world cities shows that the charge initially is very unpopular.
Then residents “began to appreciate the reduction in traffic and the increased transit services. So ideally, that’s what will happen here in New York”, she said.
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority said the program will result in 80,000 fewer cars a day, about an 11 per cent reduction, in what it called the most congested district in the United States.
More than 700,000 vehicles enter the Manhattan central business district daily, slowing traffic to around 11kmh on average. That is 23 per cent slower than in 2010.
The city estimates the congestion charge will bring in US$500 million in its first year. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the money would underpin US$15 billion in debt financing for investment in subways, buses and other mass transit improvements.
Source: CNA
