Federal officials have approved a plan that would allow New York City to impose a $9 toll on cars entering Manhattan as part of an effort to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality.
The city originally planned to charge $15, but scrapped that plan earlier this year. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) recently announced that she would instead impose a $9 fee.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said in a letter to the city this week that the new plan does not require further analysis by the federal government, clearing a major hurdle to making the plan a reality in January.
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“Today is the moment we've been waiting for, as we clear the final bureaucratic hurdle to implement congestion pricing,” said Jano Lieber, chairman and CEO of the New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That's the day I did it.''
“At this moment in time when we're talking about giving more people better transportation, safer streets, cleaner air for everyone and reducing congestion,” he said Friday at a news conference at the Grand. I'm proud to be standing here.” central terminal.
In addition to benefits related to traffic and pollution, climate change advocates also:welcomed the plan As a victory in the fight against climate change.
The reinstatement was announced just days after President-elect Trump's victory, raising hopes that states, rather than the federal government, are likely to take the lead on climate action in the coming years.
Trump himself I oppose the congestion pricing plan.and if the Biden administration moves quickly to approve it, it could thwart President Trump's efforts to block it.
However, there is still a chance that the plan will come truemay be blocked in court—Judges will hear from supporters and opponents of the plan in December.
