NYC to implement congestion toll for cars, infuriates suburbanites

Quote:

New York City has been cleared to implement congestion pricing, a practice that allows the city to charge drivers entering Lower Manhattan, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. The decision paves the way for the city to begin the program as soon as next spring. CNN has reached out to the Federal Highway Administration for comment. The toll is formally known as the Central Business District Tolling Program — but it’s commonly called “congestion pricing.” In practice, it works like any other toll, but because it specifically charges people to drive in the traffic-choked area below 60th street in Manhattan, it would be the first program of its kind in the United States. Proposals range from charging vehicles $9 to $23 during peak hours.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/26/busin...ing/index.html

NYC is one of the few places in the US where there is actually a pretty damn good public/mass transit system, with an excellent comprehensive subway system for the city proper and good commuter rails going out to the immediate suburbs. For example, only 22% of households on the isle of Manhattan, the most densely populated borough of the city and where the congestion toll would apply, own a car.

Obviously suburban car drivers are enraged that a city might prioritize the needs of that city's own residents who largely don't drive over the convenience of commuters who would prefer to drive their personal vehicles through the congested city, negative externalities be damned.

Quote:

New Jersey is suing to stop New York City’s landmark congestion price plan to charge drivers entering downtown Manhattan. New Jersey filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday against the US Department of Transportation, which gave final approval for New York City’s plan. New York City’s plan could toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th street up to $23 and is set to begin as soon as spring 2024. It’s designed to reduce carbon emissions from cars and pollution, improve public transit, and make the nation’s largest city more livable. It would be the first congestion price program in the United States. But in its lawsuit, New Jersey said that federal approval was “misguided” and violates the National Environmental Policy Act, a 1970 law created to improve the environment by requiring federal agencies to conduct comprehensive reviews over large-scale proposals that could impact the environment.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/21/busin...uit/index.html

Ironic using environmental law to try to squash a program that is meant to reduce car congestion, which would obviously be a big improvement in the city's air quality.

via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/Cejtg1R