After the MTA voted 12 to 1 to bring back congestion pricing in January 2025, NYC has not only seen an influx in revenue, but a reduction in road collisions, following the first three months the plan has been in effect.
NYC’s congestion pricing was originally set to roll out in June 2024, before Governor Kathy Hochul indefinitely put the traffic law on pause. It set out to charge drivers entering local Manhattan streets and avenues south of and including 60th Street, otherwise known as the Congestion Relief Zone, a toll. NYC’s congestion pricing was ultimately reinstated, after amending prices from the initial $15 proposal to $9.
However, drivers are not charged a toll if they stay exclusively on the FDR Drive, West Side Highway/Route 9A, or Hugh L. Carey Tunnel connections to West Street. Although, drivers will be tolled if they exit from an excluded roadway onto a local street or avenue in the Congestion Relief Zone. See the exact toll breakdown depending on time, vehicle type and so on here.
Through the congestion pricing program, the city aims to reduce traffic and travel time, lessen emissions, improve quality of life, raise money for public transit improvements and foster safer streets and cleaner air.
According to the MTA’s Financial Performance Report published on April 28, 2025, the program has already generated a total of $159 million, surpassing the $100 million mark earlier this year. Although it doesn’t quite meet the MTA’s first-quarter target goal of $160 million, it comes pretty close!
The millions of dollars will be put towards fulfilling the MTA’s capital projects such as expanding NYC’s electric bus fleet, progressing the Second Avenue Subway project, and upgrading the subway’s signal system.
By the end of the year, MTA projects the program to bring in a total of $500 million in revenue. At this rate, achieving said goal seems likely.
In addition to bringing in $159 million, the program has also reduced road collisions by 13%. Already in the first three months of the program, NYC has seen 218 less collisions than this time last year, according to Streetsblog NYC. January 5th through March 30th of 2024 saw 1,617 crashes in Manhattan below 60th Street. In 2025, that number sank to 1,374.
Stay up to date with the latest in regards to NYC’s congestion pricing on the MTA’s website.