
[KARAK RUCKER]
DRIVERS IN NEW YORK CITY WILL SOON HAVE TO PAY 15 BUCKS JUST TO ENTER THE HEART OF MANHATTAN.
THAT WILL BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND TOLL IN THE UNITED STATES — MEANT TO REDUCE TRAFFIC IN THE CITY — AND POLLUTION.
IN NEW YORK CITY, TRANSIT OFFICIALS HELD A VOTE AND HAVE “GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT” TO WHAT’S CALLED A “CONGESTION PRICING” PLAN.
SUPPORTERS OF THE TOLL SAY IT SHOULD ENCOURAGE COMMUTERS TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION —
WHICH WILL REDUCE CONGESTION IN A DISTRICT KNOWN FOR BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC.
THE TOLL MONEY RAISED WOULD THEN GO TOWARD IMPROVING THE SUBWAY SYSTEM.
THOSE AGAINST IT SAY IT’S A FINANCIAL BURDEN ON WORKERS AND WILL ULTIMATELY RAISE PRICES OVERALL IN THE CITY.
IT’S EXPECTED TO GO INTO EFFECT IN JUNE — BUT ALSO FACES MULTIPLE LAWSUITS LOOKING TO BLOCK THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND TOLL.