NYC's Congestion Pricing Plan Receives Final Federal Approval

New York City's congestion pricing plan has cleared its final federal hurdle, with the program expected to begin next year. The program will charge drivers a fee to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, with the aim of reducing traffic and pollution in the area and funding improvements to mass transit. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will decide on final toll rates, including any discounts, exemptions, and other allowances. The program is expected to generate $1 billion annually for the M.T.A. and make getting around New York more equitable. However, the plan faces opposition from taxi drivers, ride-share companies, and suburbanites who do not want to pay to drive in Manhattan.