- greensea
- 08 Jan 2025 10:34 PM
- General
New York City's congestion pricing plan has entered its second day, with the city experiencing a typical volume of vehicles despite brutally cold temperatures. While some commuters, like Vincent Calabrese, believe the plan will improve air quality and life in general, others, like another driver, think it's just a money grab .
The plan, which charges drivers a once-per-day toll to enter Manhattan's Congestion Relief Zone south of 60th Street, has been met with mixed reactions. Most drivers will be charged $9 during peak hours, while taxi riders will pay a 75-cent surcharge per ride, and trucks will pay up to $21.60 at peak.
Despite some initial concerns, the rollout has been relatively smooth, with no major issues reported. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is monitoring the system closely, using over 800 cameras at 110 detection points to ensure everything is functioning properly.
However, some drivers are already looking for ways to circumvent the tolls, prompting city and NYPD officials to announce a crackdown on those who try to obscure their license plates or use "ghost plates."
Governor Kathy Hochul has cautioned that it's too early to draw conclusions about the plan's effectiveness, saying that it may take several weeks or even months to analyze the data and determine the true impact of congestion pricing .
