One year into New York City’s congestion pricing program, state and city officials said the first-in-the-nation initiative has reduced traffic and funded billions in transit upgrades.
In its first year, congestion pricing resulted in 27 million fewer vehicles entering the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) of Manhattan south of 60th St, an 11% reduction in traffic. Reduced gridlock improved commute times across the region, especially at crossings into the CRZ, with some drivers saving as much as 15 minutes each way, according to officials.
The program also generated over $550 million in net revenue in its first year, allowing the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to proceed with $15 billion in transit improvement projects.
“By every measure, this program has met or exceeded expectations: traffic and gridlock are down substantially, people are moving faster, air quality is improved, streets are safer and our economy is stronger," Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Monday.
Crossings entering and exiting the CRZ experienced especially pronounced speed improvements, with morning rush hour traffic speeds up an average of 23%.
- Brooklyn Bridge: 15% faster
- Holland Tunnel: 51% faster
- Hugh L Carey Tunnel: 10.8% faster
- Lincoln Tunnel: 24.7% faster
- Manhattan Bridge: 6.7% faster
- Queensboro Bridge: 29.3% faster
- Queens-Midtown Tunnel: 18.4% faster
- Williamsburg Bridge: 28.3% faster
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway also saw a 5% percent reduction in total traffic and a 10.2% reduction in truck traffic, according to officials.
Roads approaching the CRZ are moving faster as well: sections of Flatbush Ave approaching the Manhattan Bridge saw speed increases of 6%, I-495 in New Jersey has experienced a 15% speed increase approaching the Lincoln Tunnel, and the Gowanus Expressway saw a 7% improvement between the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.
"The congestion pricing experience demonstrates what the new MTA can accomplish working with our state and city partners," said Janno Lieber, chair and chief executive office of the MTA. "The result here is flawless execution and unprecedented benefits for all New Yorkers.”
