Congestion Pricing in New York Has Not Yet Proven its Worth

By Tommaso Vaccaro 

On Jan. 5, 2025, New York City became the first US city to start congestion pricing. Vehicles going to Manhattan below 60th Street pay an extra $9 from 5 am to 9 pm weekdays and 9 am to 9 pm on weekends. This affects anybody coming to the city, including people from New Jersey, tourists, taxis, and delivery trucks.

There are pros and cons to this. It's supposed to make traffic better. As Janno Lieber, MTA chair and CEO explained, time wasted in traffic is a huge drag on our economy (Rocca, 2025). It’s supposed to decrease pollution and get people to use public transportation. Money gained from charging additional fees will be used to fix the subways. 

To pay or not to pay? Critics argue congestion pricing could unfairly burden commuters and small businesses. Photo by Freepik

A recent report from the MTA gives us hopeful news (NYSDOT, 2025). Trip times across

river crossings are faster when comparing January 2025 to January 2024. Bus rides crossing the Hudson and East Rivers are faster and more reliable. People are taking public transportation more often. Weekday growth for subway use is about 7.3 percent. Drivers are changing the times they arrive in Manhattan to avoid paying the fee. All of these factors contribute to improving quality of life in New York and decreasing traffic.

Many people oppose congestion pricing. The strongest argument against it is the increased cost for New Yorkers. For middle-class workers the cost of living is unbearable. Adding a daily fee of $9 to the already high tolls is unfair. The Midtown Tunnel toll is already $14. Hundreds of thousands of New York residents have left to look for places that are more affordable including Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. 

People argue that congestion pricing affects lower-income New Yorkers more so than the wealthy. For example, people who live in the outer boroughs (Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx) might need to drive into Manhattan for work or appointments but can't easily access public transit. There are areas outside Manhattan that have limited access to public transportation. The fee is supposed to slowly increase until it reaches $15 by 2031. Congestion pricing has been tried in other countries and has not been effective. In London, it's been in effect for several years, but London has remained one of the most congested cities in the world.

Environmentalists make the best case in support of congestion pricing as cars cause unnecessary pollution. Still, it seems that the fees are doing little to reduce the pollution caused by cars and trucks. People are finding other times and ways to navigate into Manhattan. If this is true, then all we have done is keep the pollution, but change the timing and what street it is on. 

While it sounds like a great idea to take public transportation, New Yorkers are afraid to do so. There is a problem with unhoused people and those with mental health issues on the subways, which is very noticeable. According to HOPE, an initiative that estimates the number of homeless people, there are about 2,000 people living in the subway.  Just look at some recent headlines: A woman dies after being set on fire on the subway. A man pushed onto subway tracks is recovering while the suspect is charged with attempted murder. Riders do not feel safe. These issues need to be addressed before people are willing to ride the subway again. 

In the end, there are a few undeniable facts. Congestion pricing decreases traffic and improves arrival times. Congestion pricing financially hurts low-income and working people. Congestion prices continue for now but it is unclear if it will continue long term.