
Manhattan's congestion pricing initiative is showing early success with a significant drop in vehicles entering the toll zone. Data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reveals a decrease of 26,619 vehicles per weekday, totaling 133,097 fewer vehicles over a five-day period, as reported by abc7 New York.
With less congestion in the toll zone, travel times have improved significantly. Inbound river crossings are now 30 to 40 percent faster, and bus routes have seen similar improvements, making commutes more efficient across the East and Hudson rivers. "When a car is able to travel faster over a bridge or through a tunnel, that motorist saves a few minutes, but when a bus is able to do the same, 50 people benefit from those time savings," said NYC Transit President Demetrisu Crichlow in an abc7 New York report.
The impacts of the congestion pricing plan are being experienced differently by various groups within the city's traffic system. The NBC New York reports that while some drivers notice positive changes, others feel their commuting experience remains the same. Despite differing opinions, the decrease in traffic within the congestion zone is clear, with MTA Chairman Janno Lieber stating, "Everybody’s lived experience is the same: Traffic in midtown is dramatically down."
The NBC New York reports a 51% drop in injuries from crashes within the congestion zone, with only 37 injuries from 90 crashes in 2025, compared to 76 injuries from 199 crashes during the same period in 2024. However, the MTA is set to reveal the financial outcomes of the first three weeks of congestion pricing at a meeting in the last week of January.