One year after New York City rolled out congestion pricing in Manhattan, the early results are clear: fewer cars and cleaner air.
Data released by the city and several independent studies show a sharp drop in vehicle traffic entering Manhattan’s congestion zone. Over the first year, roughly 23 million fewer vehicles drove into the area compared with the year before the program launched. Traffic delays inside the zone are down by about 25%, and travel speeds have improved on many major streets and crossings.
Before congestion pricing, there was no fee to drive into Manhattan’s core. Now, most drivers pay a daily charge, and trucks pay more based on vehicle size and timing. That change has turned trips into Manhattan into a direct cost that delivery fleets now have to plan for and budget.
The change shows up in the air quality, too. A Cornell University study found that air pollution in the congestion zone dropped about 22% in the first six months after pricing began, and the benefits spread beyond just Manhattan’s core to the rest of the city and nearby suburbs.
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