New York City’s congestion pricing program is on track to hit its $500 million revenue target by year-end while dramatically reducing Manhattan traffic – bolstering the MTA’s defense of the toll, even as the Trump administration works to shut it down. The toll raised $365 million in net revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority through Aug., even as 17.6 million fewer vehicles traveled into the zone south of 60th Street, when compared to the same time last year.
The number of vehicles entering the zone is down 12% since congestion pricing began on Jan. 5 – with 87,000 fewer vehicles entering Manhattan each day. Traffic on bridge and tunnel crossings are especially improved. Most notably, the flow of vehicles in the Holland Tunnel and on the Williamsburg Bridge are 36% and 23% faster, respectively, since congestion pricing began, MTA data shows.
The strong performance comes amid a battle to preserve the program. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA leadership to shut down the program. Instead, they filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s authority and refuse to do so unless ordered to by a federal judge.
In May, Judge Lewis Liman of the Southern District of New York blocked the Trump administration from shutting down congestion pricing or retaliating against New York transit projects before the toll’s fate is decided in court.
Source: Crain’s New York Business
