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Manhattan traffic moves way faster since congestion pricing launched, MTA says
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Stephen Nessen
Published Jan 29, 2025
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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Stephen Nessen
Published Jan 29, 2025
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The MTA’s congestion pricing tolls have already uncorked some of Manhattan’s worst traffic bottlenecks, according to data released by the agency on Wednesday that officials hope will ease the ire of drivers who are upset about the new $9 charge.
The MTA previously reported that the new fees, which launched on Jan. 5, led to 7% fewer vehicles entering the tolling zone south of 60th Street during the first several days they were in effect, compared to a similar period last year. The agency’s latest data shows that reduction has allowed traffic to move faster in areas around the city.
“Trip times have fallen by 10% to 30% on average, meaning those numbers include days with unusual disruptions,” MTA Deputy Chief Juliette Michaelson at a board meeting Wednesday. “These are just transformative improvements.”
The MTA data shows average weekday travel times in the Holland Tunnel fell 48% during the first three weeks of congestion pricing compared to the same period last January. Travel times on the Williamsburg Bridge fell 30% and 27% on notoriously jammed Canal Street, according to the data.
The cost of congestion pricing
The MTA’s congestion pricing tolls went live on Jan. 5. Here are key aspects of the tolling scheme south of 60th Street in Manhattan:
- A $9 fee on passenger vehicles from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends
- A 75% discount for all vehicles during the overnight hours, putting the after-hours toll at $2.25.
- A $14.40 toll for smaller trucks, such as box trucks.
- A $21.60 toll for large trucks, including big rigs.
- A $4.50 toll for motorcyclists.
- Yellow and green taxis will receive an additional 75-cent surcharge.
- For-hire vehicles such as Uber and Lyft will receive an additional $$1.50 surcharge.
- Both taxis and app-based for-hire vehicles are expected to pass the cost of the tolls onto passengers.
- Drivers who do not use an E-ZPass when entering the congestion zone will pay an extra 50%.
The analysis did not include changes to travel speeds on the George Washington Bridge or Cross-Bronx Expressway. The environmental assessment published by the MTA before the tolls launch expected traffic in those areas to increase slightly as drivers tried to circumvent the congestion pricing fees.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber said the reduction in traffic has allowed some of the agency’s buses to move faster than their schedules account for. Lieber said he’s considering boosting bus service as a result.
“We’re seeing on some of the north and south routes that literally buses are being forced to stop and linger for minutes at certain locations just to maintain schedule,” Lieber said. “So the bottom line is we’re reexamining the schedules to see if we can speed those trips up.”
The money from the congestion tolls is required by state law to finance $15 billion worth of upgrades to the subways. The MTA has so far declined to share how much revenue it’s brought in from the tolls, but officials said those figures would be made public at the end of February.
Tagged
new york city
manhattan
transportation
Ramsey Khalifeh
Ramsey Khalifeh is a transportation reporter on the NYC Accountability desk covering the largest transit system in the country. He was previously a general assignment reporter at Gothamist and worked on the Boston Globe's metro and copy desk. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Stephen Nessen
Stephen Nessen covers transportation. Since 2008 he has reported on everything from Occupy Wall Street, the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site, Hurricane Sandy, to Trump’s campaign for president. His transportation reporting has taken him everywhere from the MTA’s secret Rail Control Center to the gleaming subways of Seoul. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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