New York State Budget: Congestion Pricing Coming To Manhattan
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It has worked in cities like London and Singapore and state lawmakers are hoping congestion pricing will decrease traffic in New York City, too.
CBS2's Hazel Sanchez found out what Sunday's historic news means for drivers.
Big Apple subway and buses will soon be getting some much-needed improvements at the expense of drivers heading into Manhattan.
"I think it's a good idea," one New Yorker said Sunday. "Every day it's very, very (bad) traffic, so I think it can be better."
Motorists entering Midtown Manhattan below 60th Street will be charged a toll, which is anticipated to raise more than $1 billion a year for the city's ailing public transit system. A panel of experts will set the surcharges by the end of 2020, but sources told CBS2 drivers in cars will pay around $11.50 and truck drivers around $25.
"I work in Manhattan a lot and I don't mind paying for it to get in there and if it helps congestion, even better," Long Island resident Ed Crescimanni said.
Congestion pricing will be an added hardship for Charles Alvarez, who lives in the toll zone but needs to visit his mother in a Queens nursing home.
"That's crazy. I can't imagine doing that. But I have to see my mother and it's something that would greatly impact me," Alvarez said.
Traffic expert Sam Schwartz told CBS2 he thinks the system will make difference.
"The bottom line is the city is a competitive city. It is a world city. We can't have a world city if our transit system is running 65 percent on time and our traffic is moving at 4.7 mph. This will get us back in the ball game to be a world-class city."
It's important to note that drivers will not be charged the toll more than once per day and the FDR and West Side highways will not be included.