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New york city guv to relaunch Manhattan congestion charge strategy, source says

New York Guv Kathy Hochul will reveal on Thursday that the state prepares to restore a blockage charge for driving in parts of Manhattan that she indefinitely put on hold in June, a source informed Reuters.

New york city City's blockage pricing program, the first of its kind in the U.S., was at first to have charged a toll of $15. throughout daytime hours for guest vehicles driving in Manhattan. south of 60th Street beginning June 30.

Hochul prepares to reveal a modified program that is anticipated. to have a base charge of $9 for automobile, the source said. The strategy was reported previously by media outlet Gothamist.

London carried out a comparable charge in 2003.

The revised plan will require the fast-track approval of the. U.S. Transportation Department and the new toll is expected to. be carried out before President Joe Biden leaves workplace on Jan. 20. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is expected to. vote next week to authorize the charge, the source included.

A Transport Department spokesperson declined to. remark.

Hochul had actually mentioned high inflation and a desire to not hinder. commuters or travelers because of the surcharge for her. decision to stop execution.

A representative for Hochul said the governor on Thursday. will reveal the path forward to money mass transit, unclog our. streets and improve public health by minimizing air pollution.

A group of five New York House Republicans led by. Representative Mike Lawler advised incoming President Donald Trump. in a letter to kill the charge, asking him to end this ridiculous. congestion rates money grab at last. A Trump. spokesperson did not immediately comment.

In the aftermath of the delay, the MTA in June stated it was. putting $16.5 billion in capital projects on hold.

MTA has said congestion pricing would cut traffic by 17%,. improve air quality and boost mass transit use by 1% to 2%,. produce approximately $1.5 billion each year and support $15 billion in. financial obligation funding for public transportation improvement.

In 2019, state legislators approved the strategy to help fund. enhancements in public transportation utilizing tolls to manage traffic in. New York City City, the most congested of any U.S. city.

Congestion rates had been projected to start in 2021 but. the federal government under Trump took no action. It was. approved under Biden in 2023.

New York states more than 900,000 vehicles enter the Manhattan. Central Business District daily, which lowers travel speeds to. around 7 miles per hour typically.

Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum said. congestion rates can not take place quickly enough. As soon as the very first. tolls are gathered, we will finally breathe easier..

(source: Reuters)