New York City’s congestion pricing program has finally started, and the results are in: it’s helping to break up the city’s notorious gridlock. According to preliminary data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), traffic into midtown Manhattan is down about 8% from baseline levels, with speeds increasing largely due to a decrease in personal vehicle traffic.
The Bloomberg News analysis of roughly 75,000 vehicles traveling through the zone found that most of the reduced vehicle entries are due to fewer personal cars. This means fewer car trips by commuters and shoppers, which could lead to faster travel times for everyone else. However, some experts warn that these positive results may not last due to a phenomenon known as the “rebound effect,” where people who were previously gridlock-averse will start driving into Manhattan again.
Despite concerns about its impact on lower-income drivers, initial data suggests that congestion pricing has had a limited effect on vehicle values. Additionally, trips are generally faster during the program’s first week compared to the same time last year. The MTA’s head of policy and external relations confirmed that Bloomberg’s analysis largely validates the agency’s own data for the first week of congestion relief.
While some lawmakers are already proposing bills to chip away at or repeal congestion pricing entirely, experts like former New York City traffic commissioner John McCarthy hope that the eventual return of most Manhattan traffic doesn’t distract from what has been accomplished. “The big picture on congestion pricing is… we just want it to be a good experience all around,” he said.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-nyc-congestion-pricing-week-one-traffic-mix-shifts