Traffic moves through downtown Manhattan in New York City in April 2023. (Photo: Getty Images)

Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board have green lighted the congestion pricing plan, expected to go into effect in June.

Under the plan, most commuter passenger vehicles that drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street, a zone that’s south of Central Park, during daytime hours, will be charged 15 USD per day. An MTA representative said this is a breakthrough solution to solve the current traffic congestion in New York.

Congestion pricing is expected to reduce the number of vehicles that enter Lower Manhattan by about 17% as well as cut air pollution emissions by up to 2%, according to a November study by an advisory committee reporting to the MTA.

The city estimates that the tolls will raise around 1 billion USD annually for public transportation improvements.