In a move that once stirred doubts but now stirs relief, congestion pricing in Manhattan is rewriting the city’s traffic story with sharp turns and smoother roads. Since the $9 toll began below 59th Street, not only has central Manhattan seen a clear fall in traffic jams, but surrounding regions — once expected to suffer — are instead showing welcome signs of calm. With fewer delays, faster buses, and saved hours across boroughs and counties, this high-stakes traffic toll is quietly proving to be a game-changer in New York’s daily travel drama.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• 28% reduction in weekday traffic delays in Manhattan since January 2025

• 40% sharper post-holiday traffic drop this year compared to previous two

• Bronx sees 17% traffic time reduction, with 10% directly from the toll

• Bergen and Hudson Counties report 14% and 12.8% traffic reductions

• Public transit usage increases, car trips into Manhattan decline

• MTA reports faster bus travel, fewer crashes, and on-time school buses

• Clyde Frazier gives a nod to the toll — and so do the data

Just a few months into New York City’s bold new era of congestion pricing, the numbers are in — and they’re turning more than a few heads. What began as a controversial, long-debated policy aimed at easing gridlock in the heart of Manhattan has now shown itself to be a tangible success story, according to a comprehensive new study from the Regional Plan Association (RPA).

The policy, which officially took effect on January 5, introduced a $9 peak-hour toll for vehicles entering Manhattan’s Central Business District — specifically, below 59th Street. While some critics had initially voiced concerns about unintended consequences such as increased traffic in the outer boroughs or across the Hudson River, the reality so far paints a very different picture. According to RPA’s findings, not only has traffic in lower Manhattan eased significantly, but a noticeable ripple effect has been observed throughout the wider metropolitan region.

This is not just about shorter commutes and less honking. This is about time — tens of thousands of collective hours once wasted in endless traffic jams — now given back to commuters, delivery drivers, school buses, emergency services, and families. The shift is measurable, and it’s reshaping how New Yorkers experience daily transportation across boroughs and counties.

The research, which utilized real-time traffic data from navigation app Waze, examined what it calls “traffic jams” — instances when speeds on roads dropped significantly below the norm. Before congestion pricing went live, weekday travelers in Manhattan lost an average of 4,384 hours per day to gridlock. Since the implementation, that number has fallen to 3,161 hours — a striking 28% improvement. In practical terms, that’s equivalent to drivers regaining about 17 minutes for every hour previously lost in traffic.

Beyond the expected relief in Manhattan, the RPA discovered that surrounding regions — areas some predicted would be burdened with new congestion — have also seen meaningful improvements. Take the Bronx, for example. Average weekday traffic delays dropped from 2,384 hours to 1,984 hours. Notably, 10% of that decrease is directly attributed to the congestion pricing policy, dispelling fears that drivers would detour through the borough to avoid the toll.

RPA Vice President Rachel Weinberger responded directly to early critics, noting, “Contrary to pessimistic expectations, the congestion pricing program is not causing traffic to be diverted outside the Congestion Relief Zone. Instead, as more people choose transit, trips to Manhattan by car are averted, resulting in less, not more, traffic across the region.”

Interestingly, the timing of the initiative appears to have maximized its impact. Historically, traffic tends to ease in Manhattan from January to April, following the intense holiday season. But this year, the decline was even more dramatic — a 40% drop in weekday delays — nearly double the typical post-holiday slowdown seen in both 2023 and 2024.

The policy’s effect isn’t limited to the five boroughs. Across the Hudson, Bergen and Hudson Counties in New Jersey experienced travel-time reductions of 14% and 12.8%, respectively. These are not marginal changes — they’re sizable enough to influence everything from commercial trucking schedules to everyday commuter routines.

Janno Lieber, MTA Chairman and CEO, expressed confidence in the results, noting that the benefits were not merely theoretical or confined to spreadsheets. “By every possible metric, by every standard, congestion pricing is a success,” he said. “The projections that we made about the revenue have turned out to be right on the money. The results are exactly as projected, and lo and behold, the public notices the benefits almost immediately.”

Those benefits go beyond fewer traffic jams. According to the MTA, bus travel times have improved both inside and outside the toll zone. Traffic crashes in lower Manhattan have declined. Pedestrian foot traffic has grown. Even the theater district is seeing gains, with Broadway reporting its highest-grossing season ever. School buses are running on schedule, and emergency services report more predictable transit times. And in a surprising twist, New York Knicks legend Clyde Frazier gave his own vote of confidence to the initiative.

While it’s still early days, the results so far suggest that congestion pricing isn’t just a big swing — it’s connecting solidly. What was once seen as a gamble is now looking like a model for cities worldwide. For now, New York seems to be showing how calculated change, smart planning, and public buy-in can lead to real progress — not just for Manhattan, but for the region as a whole.