NYC's Congestion Pricing Is Paying Off As Motor Traffic Drops Through July

Forbes

3 days ago

Congestion pricing plate readers and EZ-Pass scanners are seen on West End Avenue and 61st Street ... More in Manhattan. (Photo by Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images)
The latest data from TomTom shows that New York City's congestion pricing is working as per design. Real-time traffic patterns from January through mid-July indicate that downtown Manhattan has experienced a notable decrease in motor vehicle congestion and a corresponding drop in travel times. The amount of time drivers spend in rush hour has decreased, and average speeds for cars have increased.
Congestion decreased by nearly 4% year over year in the first four months of 2025, from 26.2% to 22.8%. Travel times for motorists fell by 90 seconds per 6 miles as average car speeds jumped from 16.3 km/h to 17.1 km/h (note: cars still have average speeds slower than many bicyclists). July congestion continued to drop from 24.4% to 22.3%, with only half the month measured.
Formerly known as the Central Business District Tolling Program, and introduced on January 5, 2025, NYC's congestion toll was the first of its kind in the United States. The scheme requires drivers to pay a fee—based on the time and duration of their visit and their vehicle type—to enter the lower part of Manhattan, from the southern end of Central Park to the city's financial district.
TomTom data shows year-over-year drop in motor traffic congestion through July 2025
Data from TomTom, released in March, comparing January through mid-March 2025 to the same period in 2024, showed that motor traffic congestion in the tolled area of Manhattan decreased from 24.7% to 16.9%. Average travel times per 10 kilometers improved from 33 minutes and 53 seconds to 30 minutes and 48 seconds.
Evening peak hours saw some of the most dramatic changes, noted TomTom in March. 'In early 2024, congestion during the 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. rush hour averaged a staggering 43.2%,' stated a statement from the Dutch location technolgies company. 'In 2025, that number has dropped to 30.3%, shaving off nearly five minutes of the time it takes to travel 10 kilometers during peak congestion.'
TomTom advertising poster, Newcastle, UK.
Congestion pricing raised about $52 million in toll revenue in February alone—bringing the total for the first two months of operation to $100.6 million, according to documents posted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
'Congestion pricing, when implemented effectively, not only alleviates traffic but also supports economic growth,' stated TomTom.
'Beyond congestion pricing, we've learned that other tactics can also play a crucial role in alleviating urban traffic,' continued the company statement, including 'expanding public transit networks' and 'promoting cycling infrastructure.'
'Traffic congestion is more than an inconvenience—it impacts economic productivity, increases pollution, and reduces quality of life,' says TomTom.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has so far successfully resisted the Trump administration's attempts to cancel NYC's congestion pricing scheme.