NEW YORK (AP) — New York is inching towards turning into the primary U.S. metropolis to cost motorists an additional payment for coming into its most congested areas.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority mentioned Wednesday a long-delayed environmental evaluation needs to be launched by federal regulators subsequent month, to be adopted by public hearings. The MTA additionally named the members of a board that can resolve the plan’s pricing, reductions and exemptions.
The apply is often known as congestion pricing and has been utilized in cities together with London, Singapore and Stockholm. In New York, motorists coming into Manhattan under sixtieth Road can be charged a toll electronically. The income, estimated at $1 billion yearly, can be used to again borrowing for capital enhancements to the MTA’s subway and bus techniques.
Whereas ridership on New York’s subways has rebounded slowly from the COVID-19 pandemic and at present hovers round 60% of pre-pandemic ranges, car site visitors at bridges and tunnels started to return to regular ranges final 12 months.
The tolls aren’t anticipated to be carried out till late subsequent 12 months on the earliest. New York’s Legislature authorised a conceptual plan for congestion pricing in 2019 and it was initially projected to be in place in 2021. However the pandemic and a scarcity of steering from federal regulators on the kind of environmental assessment that was required mixed to stall the venture. That steering was offered final 12 months.
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