After decades of comprehensive legislation and legal process, New York City became the first idea to implement congestion pricing in the United States (Columbia University economist William Vickrey) – January 5, 2025 . It’s impossible for many New Yorkers. T came soon. New York has been synonymous with transportation since at least the beginning of the last century, when Edison Studio shot the first film in New York City. Movie: A short clip from the bustling Pioneer Square. Gridlock has only appeared since the Edison era: in 2023, a record 335 million vehicles crossed bridges and tunnels in New York City.
Annual Paid Vehicle Crossbeams on MTA Bridges and Tunnels, 1936-2023
The final plan was modest compared to the earlier proposal: Passenger cars entering the “congestion relief zone” (or “CRZ”, including most Manhattans below 60th Street) paid up to $9 during peak hours Fees, one day. Drivers can still access all 6,300 miles of streets and highways in the city, which is just a small powerhouse considering alternative forms of transit forms, such as New York’s world-class subway system.
Although New York City’s traffic congestion pricing plan is only a few weeks old, early data are promising and have proven to be popular. Here are some potential benefits New Yorkers and visitors are expecting in the long-awaited congestion pricing plan for the coming months.
Reduced traffic, improved travel time and better public transport
Dutch Tunnel Commuting Time, Monday
The Metropolitan Transportation Administration (MTA) reported that traffic congestion pricing started just one month after it started, and reported that one million cars were entering the most crowded area of Manhattan. This reduction resulted in 10% to 30% higher travel time at all Hudson and East River intersections and faster and more reliable bus services. Straphangers also noted: During this period, weekend express service passenger volume increased by more than 20%, and subway rides increased by 7.3% over the weekdays, with an ongoing trend dating back to fall 2024.
A better big apple
The subway has been the lifeblood of New York City for more than a century. However, running one of the world’s largest and oldest subway systems requires ongoing maintenance, and many improvements, such as making stations easy to use, have been decades. Congestion pricing will allow MTA to fund $15 billion in capital improvements in its massive system, including adding 250 electric buses and continuing the Second Avenue subway line.
Slideshow: 120 Years in New York City
In addition to nuts and bolts, crowded pricing can pave the way for redirecting New York City streets. Reducing vehicle traffic can free up valuable space and resources to develop more sustainable community-centric urban design. The transformation of Times Square into Pedestrian Square is a good example. Once traffic jams, the 2017 redesign added 110,000 square feet of pedestrian space by converting parts of Broadway into a permanent car area. This shift not only improves safety, but also enhances the public experience by providing more seating, art installations and cultural events. Today, the re-invigorating Times Square has become a popular and vibrant gathering place, and the project is considered a model for how smart city design redefines better urban spaces.
Reduced congestion can also improve economic productivity by reducing commuting times and increasing the overall efficiency of the transportation network. In short, businesses are more efficient when drivers and merchandise move quickly and reliably. Even the city itself can save a lot of money: less transportation may reduce wear and tear on New York infrastructure, thus reducing long-term costs. Almost 23% of the New York City Department of Transportation’s 2025 budget is allocated to road repairs, maintenance and inspections.
Environmental and health benefits
Researchers don’t have enough data to measure the full impact of congestion pricing on New York City’s air quality, but other metropolitan areas with similar charging plans have already seen significant improvements. For example, New York’s sister city, London, reported 17% of the afternoon2.5 Particulate matter after its ultra-low emission zone is expanded in 2023. Clean air can improve public health outcomes by reducing respiratory tracts and other pollution-related issues. Moreover, a growing number of studies have found that chronic noise pollution caused by flow is not just a worry, but can also increase the risk of hypertension, stroke and heart attacks in nearby communities.
afternoon2.5 Trends in London, 2010-2023
Clean air is not the only way congestion pricing can benefit public health. In recent years, the number of traffic accidents in New York City has increased, with New Yorkers almost every day in the first nine months of 2024. However, in the first 12 days of traffic congestion pricing, crashes and injuries both dropped by more than 50%. London once again offers a long-term perspective: researchers found that a staggering 40% of traffic accidents have dropped by 40% since the city’s congestion losses were launched in 2003.
At the state level, from 1990 to 2030, greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 40% from 1990 levels, which was made up of Landmark Landmark Climate Leadership and the 2019 Landmark Climate Leadership and Community Conservation Act 2019 》The goals set by the
Evidence in the sidewalk
Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law, said: “While many benefits have been verified in cities around the world, congestion pricing remains a controversial for some drivers, politicians and the media. “Some politicians are now challenging the program, which is the result of a wide range of programs, policies and legal processes. However, after it has begun, there is little precedent for reversing local transport projects of this scale.”
Some may recall similar uproar when New York passed the Clean Indoor Air Act, which eventually banned smoking in indoor public places 20 years ago. Today, New York City’s smoking ban is celebrated, a major advancement in protecting public health and improving the quality of life in cities. It’s hard to imagine going back to the time when smoke hangs in the air of city bars and restaurants.
Still, over time, it’s not only about proving that it’s relaxing Gotham’s impasse, but also adapting to the challenges of New York’s complex cityscapes.
Jacqueline M. Klopp (Jacqueline M. Development. “But we should not be complacent. The funds collected are translated into timely and equitable improvements are crucial. Most urgent What we need to address inequality. People in the South Bronx suffer from high levels of traffic and health issues related to air pollution, and he should also get considerable benefits from the city’s traffic congestion pricing plan.”
In a city with more than 8 million people, change is not easy. Yet, New York has been at the forefront of the movement that resonates around the world, both in art, urban development and public transportation. Throughout the city’s long history, New Yorkers have challenged the status quo under a sturdy scheduling of the status quo driven by a fusion of determination, imagination and inspiration. It turns out that it is a lasting formula for progress time and time again.
Other photo studies by Emely Mendez
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official status of the Columbia Climate School, the Institute of Earth, or Columbia University.
