New York City considering first US congestion charge

New York City officials are considering the implementation of the first congestion pricing program in the United States.

Transcript

00:00 In what would be the first congestion pricing program in America, New York City officials

00:06 are planning to charge most drivers $15 to enter Manhattan's Central Business District.

00:12 The proposal, released Thursday from the Traffic Mobility Review Board, is designed to reduce

00:17 congestion and air pollution, while also bringing in about $1 billion annually to fund upgrades

00:23 for the city's mass transit systems.

00:25 Here's how it breaks down.

00:27 From 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, passenger cars would

00:32 pay $15 to enter Manhattan.

00:35 Small trucks would pay $24, large trucks $36.

00:39 Those entering Manhattan through the four toll tunnels during the daytime congestion

00:43 hours will receive a credit.

00:45 Cars would pay $5 less.

00:47 The plan also calls for toll rate discounts when traveling during non-peak hours and for

00:52 frequent low-income vehicle owners.

00:55 New Jersey drivers would add a $1.25 surcharge per ride for entering the congestion zone,

01:00 and ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft passengers would see an extra $2.50.

01:06 NYC officials based their strategy on similar plans in several cities around the world,

01:11 including London, Singapore, and Stockholm.

01:13 Critics of congestion pricing include New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who claims it

01:18 would unfairly affect his New Jersey residents.

01:21 In July, the Garden State sued the federal government for approving New York's plan.

01:26 Meanwhile, both Uber and taxi drivers have also expressed their opposition to this, and

01:31 are asking for an exemption from it.

01:34 The New York Taxi Workers Alliance estimates that without an exemption, individual drivers

01:39 could lose up to $8,000 a year in income.

01:43 The proposal still has to be approved by the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority,

01:48 which runs the city's mass transit systems.

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