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NYC’s Congestion Pricing Is Working
It’s been a little over a month of congestion pricing in NYC, and the numbers are already showing positive results. The city is seeing 250,000 fewer cars on the roads each week and more pedestrians on the roads – a huge plus for local businesses. Still, not everyone seems happy with the new changes.
An Overview Of NYC’s Congestion Pricing Program
NYC has been consistently ranked as the worst place in the world for traffic. It costs the city up to $9 billion each year in lost time, with the average commuter wasting 101 hours in 2023 alone.
To tackle the problem, Governor Kathy Hochul introduced the first congestion pricing plan nationwide last month.
Most drivers who want to drive through the city’s “Congestion Relief Zone” during peak hours (5AM-9PM on weekdays, 9AM-9PM on weekends) need to pay a $9 toll before crossing. If you’re driving through outside peak time, you’ll pay $2.25 to cross through. Other vehicles like trucks, motorcycles, or taxis will have their own toll prices.
Which Roads Fall Under Congestion Pricing?
Anything under 60th street will fall under Manhattan’s Congestion Relief Zone. It includes:
- Lincoln Tunnel
- Williamsburg Bridge
- Hugh L. Carey Tunnel
- Queensborough Bridge
- Manhattan Bridge
- Holland Tunnel
- Brooklyn Bridge
If a driver’s coming from Upper Manhattan or the Bronx, they’ll need to pay once they get to 60th street. Certain exemptions and discounts are also available for certain drivers, including:
- Emergency vehicles
- Those who make an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $60,000 or less
- Public buses
- School buses
- Drivers with disabilities
Click here to learn more about how you can apply and take advantage of these exemptions.
How Congestion Pricing Affects Local Businesses
Congestion pricing has already been showing positive results. There’s been a 7.5% reduction in car traffic. Traffic is flowing faster, accidents are less frequent, and foot traffic went up by 1.5 million. For many pedestrians, less cars around is encouraging them to explore local shops and take in more of what the city has to offer.
“Congesting pricing is working exactly as intended – with faster commutes, cleaner air, and even more business activity in the congestion relief zone,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives in a previous statement.
Is Congestion Pricing Here To Stay?
Time will tell if the results outweigh the costs. So far, congestion pricing is here to stay for now. The effects have largely been positive on our community. Besides making the city’s streets cleaner and safer, local businesses have a golden opportunity to attract more customers to their doors. If positive trends continue, NYC’s traffic system could become a permanent model for urban traffic management nationwide.
As NYS Dept. of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez puts it, “This first-in-the-nation program being launched by Governor Hochul will help us achieve our goal of a less congested City of New York, with cleaner air and safer streets. It will also provide the critically important resources needed to create a more efficient and accessible public transportation system that will ease commutes and improve the quality of transportation for everyone.”
