While not likely to face its first stringent test until Monday morning rush hour, New York City's congestion pricing plan for drivers kicked off at midnight Sunday. Transportation leaders declare success amid pushback.

New York City kicked off the first congestion pricing program in the US, part of an effort to reduce the number of vehicles in the world’s most traffic-clogged urban area while raising money for transit infrastructure.

New York’s much-debated plan to charge drivers to enter the center of Manhattan is set to take effect Sunday just after midnight, following years of bureaucratic and legal roadblocks. The goals of what is known as “congestion pricing” are to reduce gridlock and pollution and raise revenue for public transit.