NYC's Congestion Pricing Reduces Traffic and Improves Travel Times, Early Data Shows

The nation's first congestion pricing program has cut vehicle entries into Manhattan's busiest zone by 7.5% in its first week, with faster commutes and safer streets reported.

New York City's congestion pricing program, launched on January 5, 2025, charges passenger vehicles $9 during peak hours to enter Manhattan below 60th Street.
Preliminary data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) shows a 7.5% drop in vehicle entries into the central business district, equating to about 43,000 fewer cars per weekday.
Travel times have improved significantly, with reductions of 30-40% for river crossings and 20-30% for crosstown trips, benefiting buses and commuters.
The program aims to ease congestion and generate revenue, with an estimated $500 million annually to fund transit improvements like new train cars and accessible subway stations.
City officials are analyzing the program's early impact, while enforcement efforts target drivers attempting to evade tolls by obscuring license plates.