A New York City Toll That's Working - And Other Surprises
When the city first introduced a $9 toll to charge drivers who enter Manhattan during peak hours, critics called it a cash grab and even sparked threats from President Donald Trump. But a year into its implementation, congestion pricing has largely proved to be a success.
According to data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), 21 million fewer vehicles have entered the toll zone since tolling began – an 11 percent drop from what was projected without it. Meanwhile, average vehicle speeds improved by 23 percent. That's the difference between a one-hour crawl and a 45-minute commute.
The real gains, however, came at the entry points. At the Holland Tunnel, morning rush hour speeds jumped from 10.8 to 16.2 miles per hour – a 51 percent improvement. And in another area of the city, a separate analysis found that these improvements even spilled over to regional roads, meaning drivers outside the zone saw faster commutes.
Public transit riders benefited too. After years of steady decline, average bus speeds in the zone ticked up 2.3 percent, reversing the trend seen in 2023 and 2024. Subway and bus ridership is also up, carrying more than 400,000 riders every day compared to 2024.
Traffic congestion has long been a source of frustration for commuters, but sitting in it can have serious consequences – including higher stress levels, lost productivity, and worse air quality. By getting people out of cars and onto transit, congestion pricing helps address all three fronts.
The MTA made money from the program as well. Net revenue exceeded projections. The cash is earmarked for transit upgrades, including modern subway signals, 56 new elevators for accessibility, and the Second Avenue Subway extension.
However, there's still one question left unanswered: what about air quality? A recent study found a 22 percent decline in one kind of particulate matter after congestion pricing went into effect, while another analysis found little effect. The MTA's own data show no significant change in pollution levels. If London and Stockholm are any guide, it'll take a few years of data before congestion pricing's effects on air quality become clear.
The program has also shown surprising resilience to opposition. When Stockholm launched its congestion pricing in 2006, two-thirds of residents opposed it. After a six-month pilot, they held a referendum – and more than half voted to keep the program. New York seems to be following a similar arc. Gov. Kathy Hochul now touts the toll as an "unprecedented success." Officials in Los Angeles have already reached out for advice on their own potential pilot project.
The bottom line: if you charge people to drive, fewer people drive. Who knew?
When the city first introduced a $9 toll to charge drivers who enter Manhattan during peak hours, critics called it a cash grab and even sparked threats from President Donald Trump. But a year into its implementation, congestion pricing has largely proved to be a success.
According to data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), 21 million fewer vehicles have entered the toll zone since tolling began – an 11 percent drop from what was projected without it. Meanwhile, average vehicle speeds improved by 23 percent. That's the difference between a one-hour crawl and a 45-minute commute.
The real gains, however, came at the entry points. At the Holland Tunnel, morning rush hour speeds jumped from 10.8 to 16.2 miles per hour – a 51 percent improvement. And in another area of the city, a separate analysis found that these improvements even spilled over to regional roads, meaning drivers outside the zone saw faster commutes.
Public transit riders benefited too. After years of steady decline, average bus speeds in the zone ticked up 2.3 percent, reversing the trend seen in 2023 and 2024. Subway and bus ridership is also up, carrying more than 400,000 riders every day compared to 2024.
Traffic congestion has long been a source of frustration for commuters, but sitting in it can have serious consequences – including higher stress levels, lost productivity, and worse air quality. By getting people out of cars and onto transit, congestion pricing helps address all three fronts.
The MTA made money from the program as well. Net revenue exceeded projections. The cash is earmarked for transit upgrades, including modern subway signals, 56 new elevators for accessibility, and the Second Avenue Subway extension.
However, there's still one question left unanswered: what about air quality? A recent study found a 22 percent decline in one kind of particulate matter after congestion pricing went into effect, while another analysis found little effect. The MTA's own data show no significant change in pollution levels. If London and Stockholm are any guide, it'll take a few years of data before congestion pricing's effects on air quality become clear.
The program has also shown surprising resilience to opposition. When Stockholm launched its congestion pricing in 2006, two-thirds of residents opposed it. After a six-month pilot, they held a referendum – and more than half voted to keep the program. New York seems to be following a similar arc. Gov. Kathy Hochul now touts the toll as an "unprecedented success." Officials in Los Angeles have already reached out for advice on their own potential pilot project.
The bottom line: if you charge people to drive, fewer people drive. Who knew?
. I mean, 21 million fewer vehicles entering Manhattan during peak hours is a huge deal - it's like, you can't make this stuff up! And the fact that average vehicle speeds improved by 23% is no joke, especially for those stuck in traffic during rush hour. It's not just about the tolls themselves, but also about changing people's behavior and making them think twice before jumping into their cars 
. Plus, it's awesome to see all the extra revenue being used for transit upgrades - it's like a win-win for everyone! 
It's all about changing the way we think about traffic and commuting. I mean, who needs to sit in a 1-hour crawl when you can hop on the subway or bus and be done with it? 
) - it's also got people moving faster overall. Like, 16.2 miles per hour at the Holland Tunnel is crazy fast! 
I'm curious to see how other cities take note of this success story and try out their own congestion pricing plans. Maybe we'll see a global shift in the way people move around cities? 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to sit in traffic that's 45 minutes long instead of an hour? But seriously, it's crazy how much of a difference it's made - we're talking about 21 million fewer vehicles entering the zone! That's massive. And it's not just the toll itself, but also the impact on air quality (or lack thereof). The fact that public transit riders are benefiting too is a win-win 
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". And the best part? It shows that even when people are opposed to change, it can still work out in the end 
. Maybe we'll see more cities taking cues from NYC and giving congestion pricing a shot... fingers crossed! 
. But, gotta say, the whole air quality thing is still a bit sketchy. A 22% decline in particulate matter? That's not exactly reassuring 
. Still, I'm all for taking steps to reduce traffic congestion and encourage public transit - it's a start! 
I'm low-key loving how it's not only reduced traffic but also boosted public transit ridership - 400k daily commuters is no joke! The MTA making bank too is a bonus 
. Now, about that air quality thing... I'd love to see some long-term data on this one, but overall, congestion pricing is giving NYC a much-needed shakeup 
Congestion pricing seems like a total game-changer! 21 million fewer cars entering Manhattan during peak hours? That's insane! And the speed improvements are crazy too - I'm talking faster commutes all around. Like, who wouldn't want to ditch their car and hop on public transit or bike instead?
plus the mta is using all the $$$ from tolls to upgrade subway signals and elevators 
! And let's not forget the benjamins, the MTA is raking it in 
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out with air quality and all, but for now I'm just stoked to see some real progress being made 
it's a win-win all around - less traffic = faster commutes = cleaner air = more money for transit upgrades 
. One thing I'd love to see is more info on how Los Angeles plans to implement its own pilot project 
. I was like "this toll thing won't work" but it seems NYC is getting the hang of it 
. The stats are mind-blowing - 21 million fewer cars entering Manhattan, speeds increasing by 23%, and even regional roads seeing faster commutes? That's some serious traffic magic 
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. I mean, who doesn't want to spend less time stuck in traffic and more time outdoors?
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Congestion pricing has been a game-changer in NYC, the numbers are just insane - 21 million fewer vehicles in the zone since tolling started is wild! And it's not just the city, drivers outside the zone are seeing faster commutes too. I mean, who doesn't love getting out of their car and onto public transit? It's about time we prioritize our air quality and stress levels over driving around like a bunch of lunatics 
my only concern is about air quality - I've heard mixed reviews on that one 
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. It just goes to show that sometimes charging people to drive can actually be a good thing