Your District, Your Data
Explore how congestion pricing affects your community and how revenue funds transformative transit improvements. Despite misconceptions, fewer than 4% of commuters in any district pay the toll, with most districts averaging around 1.5%.
Remember: 97–99% of commuters do not pay this toll, while everyone benefits from improved transit services and reduced traffic. Check your own district’s data below.
Average Toll Payers
Across NY & NJ legislative districts, around 1.5% of commuters pay the congestion toll, with the highest under 4%.
Income Patterns
In about half of districts, drivers earn more than transit riders; in the other half, transit users earn more.
Transit Funding
Congestion tolls generate $15 billion for MTA capital improvements, including new subway lines, modernized signals, and more.
Cars in 1st Month
Early data shows a reduction of 1 million vehicles entering Manhattan, faster travel times, and a surge in transit ridership.
Legal Battle Updates
Congestion pricing faces simultaneous challenges on two fronts, with opponents attempting to dismantle the program through both state and federal legal action.
New Jersey Challenge
New Jersey officials claim the environmental assessment was insufficient and would unfairly impact NJ communities.
Federal Judge Ruling
A federal judge largely upheld the program but required the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to provide more analysis of how they would mitigate increased traffic and pollution in New Jersey.
Court Decision
- Environmental assessment found sufficient for program to proceed
- No injunction to block the tolls was issued
- Required additional mitigation analysis for New Jersey impacts
Emergency Relief Rejected
U.S. District Judge Leo Gordon denied New Jersey's injunction request. The same day, the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals denied New Jersey's request for a restraining order to halt congestion pricing.
"We are disappointed that the courts have allowed this toll to take effect tomorrow despite agreeing that its approval violated the law and arbitrarily shortchanged New Jersey residents."
-- New Jersey Governor's Office
Congestion pricing allowed to launch as scheduled on January 5, 2025
New Jersey Amends Lawsuit
New Jersey filed an amended lawsuit with new claims that the FHWA unlawfully "rubber-stamped" significant last-minute changes to the toll plan without proper review.
Key Claims:
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Federal approval process violated the National Environmental Policy Act and Clean Air Act
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Finding of No Significant Impact was issued before details like the exact toll rates were finalized
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The toll "lines the MTA's pockets at the expense of New Jerseyans" and will push traffic and pollution into North Jersey communities
Case will continue through courts in 2025, with potential for appeals to higher courts
Federal Intervention
The Trump administration has attempted to terminate the program's authorization entirely.
Federal Termination Order
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to New York's Governor informing her that the U.S. Department of Transportation was terminating the congestion pricing program's federal authorization.
"New York State's congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners... drivers have already paid for the roads through gas taxes and now would have no free highway alternative to enter Manhattan."
-- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
Federal Government Claims:
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Program's primary purpose appears to be raising revenue rather than reducing congestion
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The toll runs contrary to the intent of the federal pilot program that enabled it
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Ordered an "orderly termination" of the tolls (reportedly by late March 2025)
New York's Legal Response
The MTA immediately filed suit in federal court to block the U.S. DOT's termination order, arguing that the program underwent four years of federally supervised review and had received final approval just months prior.
MTA's Core Legal Arguments:
- Federal government has no authority to unilaterally overturn a duly approved and operational state program
- The program received final approval after a rigorous four-year review process
- The sudden reversal is arbitrary and capricious under administrative law
"We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king... We'll see you in court."
-- Governor Kathy Hochul
MTA's Evidence of Success:
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Congestion has dropped dramatically
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Broadway shows are selling out
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Transit ridership is up
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Drivers are having a better experience
Current Legal Status
Congestion pricing continues to operate while these legal challenges proceed through the courts. The outcome remains uncertain, with two parallel legal battles: New Jersey's case attacking the program for being improperly approved, and New York's case defending the program against the federal attempt to terminate it.
Fact vs. Fiction
Since congestion pricing was implemented in January 2025, real-world data has countered many common misconceptions. Here's how the facts stack up against the claims based on the first months of operation.
"Congestion pricing will worsen Manhattan's economy."
Broadway revenue is up significantly since implementation, with weekly grosses in mid-January 2025 reaching $33.4 million compared to just $23.6 million in the comparable week a year prior. Times Square area businesses have noticed more foot traffic, and neither snow nor the toll is keeping Broadway patrons away. In the transportation sector, yellow taxi trips increased 10% during the first week as drivers completed more fares due to less time stuck in traffic jams.
"Traffic will just move to other areas."
While some route shifting has occurred, overall traffic volume has decreased by approximately 7.5%, with over 1 million fewer vehicle entries into the congestion zone in the first month compared to baseline forecasts. Even the free East River bridges, like the Queensboro and Williamsburg, saw approximately 30% faster trips due to reduced backup on approaches. Data from TRANSCOM shows inbound trips on all Hudson River and East River crossings into Manhattan are 10% to 30% faster than they were a year ago in January 2024.
"It's just another tax with no real benefits."
The program collected $48.6 million in gross revenue during its first 27 days (Jan 5-31, 2025), with operating expenses of about $11 million, resulting in approximately $37.5 million in net revenue. All of this revenue is legally dedicated to transit improvements under New York's 2019 congestion pricing legislation. Meanwhile, immediate benefits are already evident: travel speeds have improved 10-30% across the board, with some arterial routes in the congestion zone seeing travel times up to 59% faster at peak hours. Express buses from outer boroughs are saving up to 10 minutes on their routes.
"It unfairly burdens working-class commuters."
Only about 15% of commuters to Manhattan drive, and data shows they typically have significantly higher average incomes than transit users. The vast majority of New York City commuters--over 85%--already use public transit. The program includes equity provisions such as low-income discount programs, exemptions for people driving to medical appointments, and reduced rates for overnight travel to accommodate lower-wage shift workers. District-specific analysis confirms that typically only 2% of commuters in NY and NJ legislative districts pay the congestion pricing toll.
Data sources include MTA traffic and revenue reports, TRANSCOM traffic monitoring, NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission data, and Broadway League attendance figures from January-February 2025.
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Latest News
Stay informed with the latest developments, policy updates, and media coverage on New York City's congestion pricing program. Our curated news articles provide insights into implementation progress, legal updates, and the transformative impact this policy is having on urban mobility.
New York Congestion Pricing Program Largely Upheld in Federal Court
Program Details
NYC's congestion pricing program establishes a toll system for vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district, with various rates based on vehicle type and time of day.
Current Toll Structure
- Standard Passenger Vehicle Rate: $9 (weekdays 5am-9pm)
- Off-Peak Rate: $5 (weekdays 9pm-5am, weekends)
- Truck Rate: $21.60
- Taxi/For-Hire Vehicle: $0.75 for taxis
- $1.50 for Uber/Lyft per trip
Exemptions & Discounts
- Vehicles transporting people with disabilities
- Emergency vehicles
- Low-income residents (after qualifying number of trips)
- Credits for drivers paying Port Authority bridge/tunnel tolls (pending)
Coverage Area
