New York City’s congestion pricing scheme is being closely monitored with the launch of a new web tool called the Congestion Pricing Tracker. Created by two college-age brothers, the tracker uses real-time traffic data from Google Maps to calculate traffic times for chosen routes and days.
According to the tracker, most drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours pay $9 or $2.25 for late nights and weekends. The data suggests that congestion pricing is working, with some drivers changing their behavior in response to the tolls.
The tracker’s creators, brothers Benjamin and Joshua Moshes, used real-time traffic data to test their hypothesis about the impact of price elasticity on driver behavior. They found that as prices increase, people tend to switch to alternative modes of transportation, such as public transit or walking.
Historically, driving has come with few costs for drivers, who benefit from subsidized road infrastructure and free parking. By making it pricier to drive a private vehicle into congested areas, the congestion pricing scheme aims to reduce traffic and fund transit improvements.
The Congestion Pricing Tracker provides a valuable tool for policymakers and researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the new scheme. With its use of real-time data and intuitive interface, it offers a unique perspective on the impact of congestion pricing on urban mobility.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/16/24344732/nyc-congestion-pricing-tracker-data-google-maps