Federal approval was granted on Friday to launch an environmental assessment, public outreach process for the state’s premiere central business district tolling program.

The program is designed to analyze the environmental impact of traffic congestion, transit, air quality and numerous other environmental indicators. The program will survey 28 counties across the state, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The study area contains 22 million people.

It’s expected to take 16 months and more than 20 public meetings are expected to be included.