Daily Management Review

New fee for entry into New York center cuts city traffic by 7.5%


01/15/2025


Following the January 5 initiation of a program to levy fees on vehicles entering specific zones in downtown New York City, city traffic has noticeably decreased, resulting in fewer traffic bottlenecks.



Tim Klapdor via flickr
Tim Klapdor via flickr
As reported by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), 219 thousand fewer vehicles accessed the center last week compared to the same week last year, indicating a 7.5% decline in traffic.

New York was the first city in the U.S. to implement a charge for entering downtown regions. Included in these locations are the region south of Central Park, Times Square, the whole Wall Street along with its nearby streets, and several others. The cost incurred varies based on the time and kind of vehicle. The lowest charge for cars is $2.25 each day during non-rush hours. The highest charge during peak times is $9.

Discussing the outcomes from the initial week of the program's functioning, the MTA highlighted that the traffic congestion at specific intersections decreased by 34-39%. The agency mentions numerous favorable comments from urban residents. At the same time, there are those who are also unhappy. As the BBC points out, one of them is Donald Trump, who stated he would eliminate the toll upon becoming president.

source: bbc.com