NYC's $9 Congestion Fee Cuts Traffic by 7.5%, Improves Travel Times in First Week

Jan 14, 2025, 02:06 PM

During the first week of New York City's newly implemented congestion pricing program, which began on January 5, traffic entering Manhattan's central business district decreased by 7.5%, with approximately 273,000 fewer vehicles entering the zone over the week, according to preliminary data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This reduction amounts to about 43,000 fewer vehicles per day entering the area south of Central Park, where a $9 fee is charged to most passenger cars during peak hours. Morning travel times improved on major crossings into Manhattan, with inbound travel times decreasing by 30% to 40% at some crossings. The MTA also reported a 6% increase in express bus ridership. Juliette Michaelson, a key official on congestion pricing, stated, "There is less traffic, quieter streets I think everybody has seen it." The congestion pricing plan, the first of its kind in the United States, is projected to generate up to $800 million annually to fund improvements to the city's aging public transit system.