New York City is considering implementing a toll lane system in the most congested areas, allowing motorists to enter for free but pay an additional fee - a toll if they pass through the most critical areas.
La Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Wednesday that the (long-delayed) environmental assessment it should be released next month by regulatory authorities. The prices, discounts and exemptions of the plan are also being defined.
Congestion pricing: is it a good model?
The practice of “congestion pricing” is already used in places such as London, Singapore and Stockholm. How would it work “New York style”? Motorists entering Manhattan from 60th Street would pay an automated toll. The money would be used to fund improvements to the city's subway and buses.
Please note: while vehicular traffic levels have returned to pre-pandemic levels, those of the subway in the 'Big Apple' are still at 60%, causing the entire city transport system to struggle economically.
Toll in the city centre: the approval phases
Congestion pricing should be implemented before December 2023: a long and difficult goal, if you consider that the New York administration approved the measure in 2019, then postponed it to 2021 due to the pandemic. Now, finally, the decisive steps. The granting of environmental approval will mark the de facto introduction of the rule, until practical application next year.
What do you think? Could it work in the historic center of Italian cities, would it be a good way to balance financial resources and give more oxygen to public transport? In New York the consensus is not unanimous, but it is good to say that motorists already pay a toll even to cross the bridges of the city.
It would be nice to hear your opinion in the comments on the various Futuro Prossimo social channels. I believe I will also open a poll on ours telegram channel.
