The city also hopes to use the obtained funds to improve the outdated public transport infrastructure.
After years of research, delays and even a last-minute, failed attempt by the state of New Jersey to challenge the toll’s implementation in court, collection began without significant problems on Sunday. The managers of New York’s transportation system, however, emphasized that the country’s first such toll collection program will definitely need some corrections. It will be possible to evaluate its operation more objectively after the first full working week. “This is a tolling system that has never been used before in terms of complexity. We don’t expect New Yorkers to change their behavior overnight. Everyone will have to gradually adjust to this,” at a press conference at New York’s central hub Grand Central Terminal Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) chief John Lieber said on Sunday.
The introduction of the new fee has many opponents, including US President-elect Donald Trump, who owns the building Trump Tower located in the toll area. Democrat Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, has also promised to continue the fight against the toll.
The toll will be collected automatically by an electronic system with 1,400 cameras located at more than 110 points, the BBC reports. The toll zone covers the part of Manhattan south of Central Park, it is located Empire State building, Times Square and the financial district around Wall Street.
Drivers of passenger cars will have to pay $9 once a day to enter the toll zone during peak hours (5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends), $2.25 at other times. For the entry of a small truck during peak hours, you will have to pay 14.40, for the entry of a larger truck and tourist buses – 21.6 dollars, for the entry with a motorcycle – 4.5 dollars.
Drivers who use toll tunnels to get into Manhattan will have to pay less.