New York City’s congestion pricing system appears to be working as vehicle traffic and pollution drop, and some believe higher tolls could bring yet more progress.
Though the plan’s 2025 rollout was controversial — the US transportation secretary called it “a slap in the face to working-class Americans” — evidence suggests it is achieving its aims, with some analysts calling for authorities to go further by raising tolls, which have brought in $1 billion, sooner than scheduled.
Similar plans in London and Singapore have led to improvements, bringing down the volume of traffic while increasing air quality.
“One lesson [from New York City] is pretty clear: If you want less congestion, you need to make the congestion-causers pay,” a Bloomberg columnist wrote.
