Trump Wants to Kill Congestion Pricing, But It Has Eased Traffic in NYC

In a dramatic move last Wednesday, President Trump’s administration called for the end of New York City’s first-in-the-nation congestion tolling program that charges drivers for entering Manhattan below 59th Street. In a letter to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Sean Duffy, the Secretary of the US Department of Transportation, claimed that the program was illegal because it tolled an entire zone rather than a specific bridge or crossing and that it failed to meet its goals of reducing congestion.

Trump followed up the letter with a post on Truth Social declaring, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD… New York, is saved… LONG LIVE THE KING!” But it's not clear if congestion pricing is actually dead. Governor Hochul promised to fight the decision in court, saying she will keep the toll cameras on and the state filed a lawsuit in federal court stating the move “is in open disregard of a host of federal statutes and regulations, not to mention the MTA and TBTA's rights under the United States Constitution.”

While the issue will likely move to the courts, the MTA has presented early data that shows the program has reduced congestion, in contrast to the administration’s claims. Data from the GPS service TomTom backs up the MTA’s case and presents new data about which areas of Manhattan have seen the greatest relief.

The data, which includes a sample of TomTom users, found that the extra time added to trips in the congestion zone due to traffic dropped from 23.5 percent to 16.9 percent between January 2024 and January 2025. Maps showing the average time added to trips show that Midtown South, Southeastern portions of the FDR drive, and Chinatown, near the base of the Manhattan bridge, saw the greatest relief.

Traffic Is Down in The Congestion Zone

Average additional trip time, January 3-February 20th 2024 to January 1st-February 18th 2025. Data and maps courtesy of TomTom

The travel time it takes to go every 10km (6 miles) also dropped from 33 minutes and 42 seconds to 30 minutes and 36 seconds, on average.

The neighborhood data suggests that while the whole congestion zone sees some relief, the effects are more pronounced in some neighborhoods. Traffic congestion contributes to poor air quality from vehicle emissions. So, fewer cars sitting in traffic might improve the air quality in some neighborhoods, like Stuy-town on Manhattan’s East Side just North of 14th street, where freer flowing traffic on the streets and nearby FDR drive has dramatically reduced congestion.

Reductions in traffic were even more dramatic during the peak evening hours of 3-5pm. In January and February 2024, the average trip was 41.1 percent longer due to congestion during peak hours; during that same period in 2025, the congestion level dropped to 28.4 percent.

Traffic Is Down More During Peak Evening Hours (3-5pm)

Average additional trip time, January 3-February 20th 2024 to January 1st-February 18th 2025 from 3-5pm. Data and maps courtesy of TomTom

Many evening commuters saw modest improvements in traffic near some Manhattan’s bridge and tunnel crossings, like the Lincoln, Holland, and Queens Midtown tunnels and the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.

X (formerly Twitter) user @VeblenTweets documented their midday drive along Canal Street, the normally packed stretch connecting the Manhattan Bridge and Holland tunnels, saying, “This is what congestion pricing is actually like in Chinatown. Not empty but you can actually get around. A month ago, this would’ve been standstill traffic.” Chinatown residents and businesses expressed concerns about the tolls before they went into place late last year.

New Yorkers had just been getting used to congestion pricing. Now Governor Kathy Hochul is pitching Trump on keeping the program with a 22-slide PowerPoint presentation that showed reductions in traffic, faster speeds, more on-time school buses, and higher Broadway attendance.

The MTA also released data on revenue projections, which showed nearly $49 million, slightly less revenue than anticipated, but still enough to generate $500 million that the MTA needs by year’s end. That money will go towards improvements like accessible Long Island Railroad Stations, modern signaling on the A and C lines, and extending the Second Ave Subway to East Harlem.

“With an initial performance in line with projections, we can confidently move forward with projects that rely on funds from the Congestion Relief Zone,” said MTA Chief Financial Officer Kevin Willens in a statement. “We look forward to seeing similar results in the coming months.”

Next, check out the MTA’s early data on congestion pricing and what it means for your ride.