Congestion Pricings True Test Comes During First Rush Hour

New York City’s long-awaited congestion pricing plan began on a freezing night over the weekend when few drivers were on the road and transit workers could turn on tolling equipment at a relaxed pace.But a tougher test will happen on Monday morning, when traffic is expected to increase, with many commuters returning to work.Light snow is forecast, which could affect traffic levels.The tolling program, the first of its kind in the nation, aims to lessen traffic and pollution in a designated zone, which runs from 60th Street to the southern tip of Manhattan.After what seemed to be a successful first day, transportation officials will soon have a better sense of whether the new tolls will have a significant impact on the flow of cars, trucks and buses in the heart of the city.On Sunday, they warned that it was too soon to know how the tolling system was faring.

But they also said that traffic appeared to be moving as usual — not better, not worse — based on real-time transportation data.Officials have projected that the tolling program could eventually reduce the number of vehicles entering the congestion zone by at least 13 percent.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....