New York is already an expensive place to travel, but things have just become worse,&nbsp;transit authorities authorised a controversial $15 toll for cars entering the busiest area of Manhattan, which is scheduled to go into force in mid-June.

In an attempt to promote public transportation use and ease traffic in town and lower Manhattan, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York voted 11-1 to charge the congestion toll. This will help decrease pollution.

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The price, which is comparable to current programmes in Singapore, London, and Stockholm, will be the first of its kind in an American city. Federal approval is initially required, and then toll collection mechanisms must be established.

Along with any existing bridge or tunnel taxes, drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street from Queens, Brooklyn, and neighbouring New Jersey will be charged $15 during the day and $3.75 at night for passengers and small commercial vehicles.

During the day, trucks and sightseeing buses will pay between $24 and $36; at night, they will pay less. According to the MTA, ridesharing services like Uber will be allowed to charge $2.50 each trip, while taxis would charge $1.25 for each passenger into the zone.

Specialised city cars, emergency vehicles, and vehicles transporting individuals with disabilities will be the only ones excluded. Drivers in the congestion zone with low incomes will be eligible for discounted costs.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber called the vote "one of the most significant the board has ever undertaken," and said in a statement, "The MTA is ready."

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The MTA plans to use more than $1 billion it will get from the new toll to finance system expansions, modernise subway signals, and renovate stations to make them more accessible.

"One of the biggest goals of this is to finally attack congestion, but the other side of the equation is to invest more in transit," Lieber stated.

But critics, especially already stressed-out commuters, have howled over the new toll, and several lawsuits are already under way.

(With inputs from agencies)

New York is already an expensive place to travel, but things have just become worse, transit authorities authorised a controversial $15 toll for cars entering the busiest area of Manhattan, which is scheduled to go into force in mid-June.

New York is already an expensive place to travel, but things have just become worse, transit authorities authorised a controversial $15 toll for cars entering the busiest area of Manhattan, which is scheduled to go into force in mid-June. In an attempt to promote public transportation use and ease traffic in town and lower Manhattan, the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York voted 11-1 to charge the congestion toll. This will help decrease pollution. Also read: US presidential hopeful Trump pushes legal challenges in hush money, poll subversion cases: Report The price, which is comparable to current programmes in Singapore, London, and Stockholm, will be the first of its kind in an American city. Federal approval is initially required, and then toll collection mechanisms must be established. Along with any existing bridge or tunnel taxes, drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street from Queens, Brooklyn, and neighbouring New Jersey will be charged $15 during the day and $3.75 at night for passengers and small commercial vehicles. During the day, trucks and sightseeing buses will pay between $24 and $36; at night, they will pay less. According to the MTA, ridesharing services like Uber will be allowed to charge $2.50 each trip, while taxis would charge $1.25 for each passenger into the zone. Specialised city cars, emergency vehicles, and vehicles transporting individuals with disabilities will be the only ones excluded. Drivers in the congestion zone with low incomes will be eligible for discounted costs. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber called the vote "one of the most significant the board has ever undertaken," and said in a statement, "The MTA is ready." Also read: Baltimore bridge collapse: Flammables, corrosives found on ship as largest crane helps clear channel The MTA plans to use more than $1 billion it will get from the new toll to finance system expansions, modernise subway signals, and renovate stations to make them more accessible. "One of the biggest goals of this is to finally attack congestion, but the other side of the equation is to invest more in transit," Lieber stated. But critics, especially already stressed-out commuters, have howled over the new toll, and several lawsuits are already under way. (With inputs from agencies)

New York set to be first US city to impose $15 congestion fee

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