New York City has become the first city in the United States to introduce a congestion fee system. The fee, which will be charged to drivers entering some of Manhattan's busiest neighborhoods, is $9 during rush hour.
The new scheme aims to reduce the number of cars in the city center and at the same time raise $15 billion for public transportation projects. The number of cars entering this zone is expected to decrease by 10% every day.
Governor Kathy Hochul suspended the scheme in June 2023 due to concerns that it could harm the electoral chances of Democratic candidates. However, the scheme was later reinstated with a lower fee.
New Jersey also tried to block the scheme in federal courts, seeking compensation for increased traffic, but the judges refused.
Now the congestion charging system faces further development, namely in the face of resistance from Republicans, who are calling for the federal program to be repealed or changed.