Manhattan Traffic Speeds Up Significantly After Congestion Pricing Launch

New York City's congestion pricing program has reduced vehicle entries into Manhattan and improved travel times on key routes, according to MTA data.

The congestion pricing program, implemented on January 5, has reduced vehicle entries into Manhattan's tolling zone by approximately 30,000 per weekday, a 5% decrease compared to past averages.
Average travel times on Hudson and East River crossings have dropped by 10% to 48%, with notable improvements at the Holland Tunnel and Williamsburg Bridge.
Bus service has improved, with some routes seeing faster travel times than their schedules account for, prompting the MTA to consider adjustments to increase efficiency.
Subway ridership has risen by 7.3% on weekdays and 12% on weekends compared to January 2024, while select Long Island Rail Road stations have seen ridership increases of up to 26%.
Critics of the program have raised concerns about potential negative impacts, such as increased traffic and air quality issues in areas outside the tolling zone, which were not addressed in the MTA's latest data release.