Traffic jams in major cities are a fact of life. The thousands of vehicles, which are mostly gas powered, decrease air quality.
To help ease congestion and improve air quality, some cities have implemented congestion pricing. This is a toll for entering the city core during specific times. London, Singapore and Stockholm have had these tolls for numerous years, Singapore as far back as the 1970s.
Joining this list is New York City. On January 5th, the city became the first in the United States to implement congestion pricing for vehicles entering Manhattan, overcoming setbacks and legal challenges.
The revenue raised from the toll could support public transportation, an efficient way to move lots of people around and helps to reduce emissions.
Other cities in the country will be watching closely to learn from the Big Apple’s experience.