New York introduces first-ever congestion toll in US | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

A toll aimed at easing traffic congestion has been launched in New York City. It is the first such program to be introduced in the United States. Toll collection began on Sunday.

The toll was launched to address the worsening traffic congestion in Manhattan’s central area, which includes Times Square and Wall Street.

The average speed of vehicles in the zone has reportedly fallen to less than 12 kilometers per hour.

Under the new program, passenger vehicles will be charged nine dollars during the day. The toll is automatically collected through sensors installed on roads.

The state of New York expects the congestion pricing to reduce the number of vehicles entering the city center by around 10 percent. It says the revenue will be used to expand bus routes and other services.

A man who was visiting New York for a conference said he thinks the congestive pricing is “a good idea to try to limit the amount of traffic and encourage people to use more public transit.”

Taxi passengers will be required to pay an additional 75 cents per trip. One taxi driver said she is opposed to the toll because it would reduce her ridership.

President-elect Donald Trump is strongly opposed to the congestion pricing, saying it will put New York City at a disadvantage over competing cities and states.

There is a possibility that he may move to abolish the program after he takes office on January 20.