New York becomes first US city to charge congestion pricing

The first vehicle congestion charging system in the United States will be introduced Sunday in New York City.

Car drivers will pay up to $9 (£7) per day, with varying rates for other vehicles.

The congestion zone covers an area south of Central Park, encompassing well-known sites such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and the financial district around Wall Street.

The plan aims to alleviate New York’s notorious traffic problems and raise billions for the public transportation network, but has faced resistance, including from famous New Yorker and President-elect Donald Trump.

Two years ago, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul first pushed for a congestion charge, but it was delayed and revised after complaints from some travelers and businesses.

The new plan revives a plan she halted in June, saying there were “too many unintended consequences for New Yorkers.”

Most drivers will be charged $9 once a day to enter the congestion zone during peak hours and $2.25 at other times.

Small trucks and non-intercity buses will pay $14.40 to enter Manhattan at peak times, while larger trucks and tour buses will pay a fare of $21.60.

The accusation has met with much opposition, including from taxi drivers’ associations.

But their most prominent opposition comes from Trump, a native New Yorker who has vowed to kill the plan when he returns to office this month.

Local Republicans have already asked him to intervene.

Congressman Mike Lawler, who represents a suburban district just north of New York City, called on Trump in November to commit to “ending this absurd congestion pricing cash grab once and for all.” .

A judge on Friday denied a last-minute effort by officials in the neighboring state of New Jersey to block the plan because of its environmental impact on adjacent areas.

Last year, New York City was named the most congested urban area in the world for the second year in a row, according to INRIX, a traffic data analysis firm.

Vehicles in midtown Manhattan were traveling at speeds of 11 mph (17 km/h) during morning peak periods in the first quarter of last year, according to the report.