# NYC Congestion Pricing Plan Moves Forward

*Published:* 2008-04-01
*Author:* Sheryl Canter

![Sheryl Canter](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2008/02/sheryl_canter.jpg)*This post is by Sheryl Canter, an online writer and editorial manager at Environmental Defense Fund.*

[![NYC - picture by David Shankbone](https://blogs.edf.org/climate411/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2008/04/nyc_by_david-shankbone.jpg)](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:M3_on_Madison_Avenue_by_David_Shankbone.jpg)[Congestion pricing](http://edf.org/article.cfm?contentID=6618) – an antidote to urban gridlock and tailpipe pollution [used in cities around the world](http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=6241) – advanced another step towards passage in New York City yesterday. After almost a year of research, debate, public dialogue and fine-tuning, the [New York City Council voted "yes" to congestion pricing](http://edf.org/pressrelease.cfm?contentID=7769).

Next stop: Albany. If state legislators approve the plan, New York City will soon enjoy less traffic, better mass transit, cleaner air, and [tens of thousands of new construction jobs](http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2008a%2Fpr111-08.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1) – good news in a sagging economy.

The idea behind congestion pricing is simple: discourage drivers from using the most congested roads at the most congested times by making it more expensive. A congestion fee is collected electronically, and the revenues fund an expansion of mass transit.

The New York City plan is to charge a fee of $8 to cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street between 6am and 6pm. (For full details, see the [final recommendation](https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/programs/congestion_mitigation_commission).) Congestion fee revenues will fund better buses, subways, and ferries in all five boroughs.

The State Legislature has until April 7th to approve the plan or risk losing $354 million in federal funds for mass transit improvements. Stay tuned!