New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has declared congestion pricing a success. Six months after its implementation, the measure has seen major improvements, from decreased traffic to increased transportation funding, but also higher revenue for local businesses.
“Six months in, it’s clear: congestion pricing has been a huge success, making life in New York better,” writes Governor Hochul.
According to data made available by the Governor’s office, the toll has reduced the number of daily vehicles in the downtown area by 67,000, cut delays at the Holland Tunnel by 65 percent and in general throughout Lower Manhattan by 14 percent, as well as increased demand for public transportation. Another major milestone is the decline in traffic fatalities with only 87 deaths in the first six months of 2025 compared to 128 in the same period last year.
As public transportation use has increased, local stores have also seen boosted sales. Broadway recorded “its biggest season ever,” the release said, with $1.9 billion in ticket sales.
Estimates show revenue of more than $200 million, just from the cameras, putting the government on track to reach the $500 million goal by year-end. The aim remains to fund a $15 billion plan to renovate subways, buses and suburban railways.
In her announcement, in addition to listing the improvements, Hochul emphasized the ongoing battles with the Trump Administration, which has instead declared its intention to abolish congestion pricing. “We’ve also fended off five months of unlawful attempts from the federal government to unwind this successful program and will keep fighting – and winning – in the courts,” the governor declared in the statement. “The cameras are staying on.”
Since congestion pricing was activated last Jan. 5, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the agency that manages the program, has sued the Trump Administration, after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revoked federal approval. In May, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled that the White House cannot block the measure.
