© Abaca Press
(New York, NY) – It has officially been over a month since congestion pricing began in Manhattan, charging most drivers $9 to enter Midtown south of 60th Street. It is the first of its kind in the country, and leaders with the MTA are saying so far the program is a success. Deputy Policy Chief Juliette Michaelson says that this past month saw a drop in traffic in the congestion zone. Compared to this time last year, there were about a quarter million fewer cars per week – which comes to a 7.5% drop in vehicles on roads.
Fewer cars on the road is actually changing things for drivers and their view on the controversial toll program. A poll from “Morning Consult” found that out of drivers who do frequent the congestion zone, around 66% of them support the tolling program. In the same poll – 59% of drivers think that President Donald Trump should not make good on his campaign promise to get rid of the toll. However, statewide the policy is still pretty unpopular thanks to pressure from suburban politicians who oppose the plan.
