Early congestion pricing numbers show NYC traffic reduced by 7.5%: MTA

CRAIG NIGRELLI: Data from the first week of New York City’s congestion pricing policy shows the policy had an effect: a small but noticeable dip in traffic on some of Manhattan’s busiest streets.

The program faced major pushback in New York and New Jersey. But officials from the MTA, New York’s public transit authority, said total traffic dropped 7.5% compared to the same time last year, taking about 43,000 cars a day out of traffic.

The program charges $9 for most cars entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, with a handful of highways exempted and a lower rate outside of rush hour. New York Governor Kathy Hochul reduced the price from $15 in response to public outcry.

An MTA spokesperson told the Associated Press that morning traffic into Manhattan in the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, two of the busiest entries into the heart of the city, saw drops of 40% or more.

It’s not clear whether public transit as a whole in the city had more riders but express bus routes moved faster.

One route from Brooklyn into Manhattan crossing the Williamsburg Bridge reduced its travel time by 28 percent.

The MTA’s chairman told The New York Times, “There’s so much evidence that people are experiencing a much less traffic-congested environment. They’re seeing streets that are moving more efficiently, and they’re hearing less noise, and they’re feeling a less tense environment around tunnels and bridges.”

But while the early data shows signs of success, MTA officials say it will take longer than one week to figure out definitively if the program is a success at reducing traffic and shifting drivers to public transit.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Craig Nigrelli.

And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.