The Metropolitan Expressway in central Tokyo around the Edobashi Junction (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

To help ease traffic congestion during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the central government and the Tokyo metropolitan government are considering hiking tolls on Metropolitan Expressway by 1,000 yen ($9.07) during daytime hours.

The central and metropolitan governments, the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and other officials agreed to discuss the 1,000-yen toll hike as a main option on May 21, according to sources.

The Metropolitan Expressway will be the main route used by Olympic and Paralympic athletes and officials.

The metropolitan government and related entities plan to test out measures to alleviate congestion with cooperation from companies in July and August. Based on the results, they will finalize the additional charge.

Officials are considering introducing a “road pricing” system that adjusts tolls by the time of day.

Additional fees between 500 yen and 3,000 yen have been considered on top of the regular tolls for cars using the electronic toll collection system, which range from 300 yen to 1,300 yen, on the circular routes of the Metropolitan Expressway and some roads inside the route.

Trucks hauling goods will be exempted from the additional charge.

The metropolitan government and the organizing committee have been trying to ease traffic congestion by asking companies to stagger commuting hours and having some employees work from home on a voluntary basis.

But they regarded these efforts as insufficient and have researched hiking tolls and its effects with the central government.

Sixteen districts including coastal areas and the Shinjuku district will test measures to address traffic congestion this summer by calling for cooperation such as staggering delivery times of goods with a goal of reducing traffic volume by 20 to 30 percent.

The Olympics will be held between July 24 and Aug. 9, 2020, while the Paralympics will be held between Aug. 25 and Sept. 6.