New York City’s congestion pricing tolls have started to make a significant impact on reducing traffic congestion in Manhattan. According to data released by the MTA, vehicles entering the tolling zone south of 60th Street saw a 7% decrease in the first few days after the new fees launched on January 5.
The reduction in traffic has led to faster travel times in areas such as the Holland Tunnel, where travel times decreased by 48% during the first three weeks. The Williamsburg Bridge and Canal Street also experienced significant reductions in congestion, with travel times decreasing by 30% and 27%, respectively.
MTA officials attribute the decrease in traffic to the new tolls, saying that they have “transformative improvements” for commuters. As a result, the agency is considering boosting bus service to keep up with the increased demand. MTA Chair Janno Lieber stated that some buses are being forced to stop and linger at certain locations just to maintain schedule, prompting the agency to reexamine its schedules to speed up trips.
The revenue generated from congestion tolls will be used to finance $15 billion worth of subway upgrades. While the exact figures have not been released, officials plan to make them public at the end of February.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/manhattan-traffic-moves-way-faster-since-congestion-pricing-launched-mta-says