The U.S. Department of Transportation has terminated approval of the recent congestion pricing pilot for New York City drivers.
In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Department rescinded a current pilot scheme that requires car drivers to pay a charge of up to $9 (£7) a day for driving in designated areas of the City centre.
Termination of the scheme was signed under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) effectively ends tolling authority for New York City’s cordon pricing plan, which imposes tolls on drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, said:
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners. Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes…Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few.”
The initial tolling scheme was introduced to ease New York’s notorious traffic congestion as well as to raise money for the public transport network.
As detailed in the letter, the Secretary claims to be terminating the pilot for two reasons; there is no toll-free option for many drivers who want or need to travel by vehicle in this major urbanised area, and the toll rate was set primarily to raise revenue for transit, rather than at an amount needed to reduce congestion.
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