UPSOT-- "Big day for the MTA. A huge day for the region."
The city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board voted on Wednesday to approve the plan's new toll rates.
They hike the daily toll in Manhattan's busiest areas to $15 for passenger vehicles, and up to $36 for larger trucks and buses.
Under the plan, drivers will only be charged once per day and lower income vehicle owners may qualify for discounts or tax credits.
Several rankings put New York City at the top of America's most congested cities with close to a million vehicles entering Manhattan's business district daily, reducing travel speeds to around 7 miles per hour.
New York says the tolls will cut traffic by 17%, improve air quality and increase public transit use, as well as generate billions for mass transit improvement.
The plan still faces a number of legal challenges, including from the state of New Jersey.
