3 global cities have had congestion pricing for decades. How’s it going?

Congestion pricing is expected to launch in New York City next year, making the Big Apple the first U.S. city to toll drivers on local streets to combat traffic and fund improvements to public transit.

Drivers could be charged as much as $23 for entering Manhattan south of 60th Street — unless they remain on the West Side Highway or FDR Drive. The second in a series of public hearings is scheduled for Thursday, and will likely feature more arguments about the cost of the tolls and who should be exempt from paying them.

The program, which will benefit the MTA and its riders, is not a new idea.

Several cities across the globe have had congestion pricing for decades, and each offers a sort of blueprint for New York City’s program.

Gothamist spoke to experts in Singapore, London and Stockholm about the history of congestion pricing in those cities, the programs’ costs in U.S. dollars and ongoing concerns. Each expert also shared advice for New York City as it rolls out its own version of congestion pricing.

The experts noted that the stakes for congestion pricing in New York City are high. If New York succeeds, it could be imitated by more…