This index was produced in partnership with the Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College.
🚗 Traffic and Transit
Fewer vehicles, greater efficiency, fewer delays.
Ridership is up, and crime is down.
The number of vehicles entering the Congestion Reduction Zone (CRZ) is ⬇️ 11% as of November.
Subway ridership through December ⬆️ 7% from last year; now 75% of pre-pandemic levels.
Transit crime rates are ⬇️ 5.5% from last year and more than 14% from pre-pandemic levels.
Combined Local, Limited, Select Bus Service (SBS) and Express bus travel speeds within the CRZ is ⬆️ 3% as of November.
Bus ridership through December ⬆️ 7% from last year; now 64% of pre-pandemic levels.
Access-a-Ride ridership through December ⬆️ 21% from last year; now 23% greater than pre-pandemic levels.
LIRR and Metro-North Rail ridership through December was ⬆️ 9% and 6% from last year. Now 80% and 89% of pre-pandemic levels, respectively.
For-hire vehicle speeds (FHV) declining for years, stabilized as of October.
Yellow taxi are 7.5% more productive citywide as of October.
Toll tunnel traffic into the CRZ is ⬇️ 3.1%.
Remaining regional crossings are flat, with less than 1% growth.
Delays in Manhattan decreased by 28.4% as of April.
Delays in the region (outside Manhattan) were ⬇️ 9% as of April.
Bus commuters are moving nearly 24% faster than in 2024.
🚉 Money Raised, Money Spent
Dollars raised for transit capital improvements total $365 million as of August and is to reach $548.3 million through December 2025.
$1.75 billion in newly awarded transit projects funded by congestion pricing will deliver signal upgrades on the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens and expand accessibility across the subway system.
Congestion pricing program revenue funding is also being directed toward new Staten Island Railway cars and power stations and improvements to express bus service.
💰 Economic & Social Impact
More foot traffic, fewer vacancies, stronger businesses.
Broadway gross revenues for the season to date (as of December 28), are 10.7% higher than at the same point last season.
Foot traffic within Business Improvement Districts inside the zone increased by 4.8% year over year as of August, compared with a 1.0% increase in business districts elsewhere in the city.
Storefront vacancy rate within the CRZ fell from 16.4% to 15.5% as of September, even while the citywide average stayed flat.
Citywide sale tax revenue reached $9.9 billion in January through November 2025.
Manhattan sales tax revenue is growing faster than neighboring counties.
🌍 Quality of Life
Quieter and healthier streets:
Traffic noise complaints within the CRZ are ⬇️ 23% as of November.
Traffic noise complaints outside the CRZ are also down, but only by 13%.
Illegal parking complaints in the CRZ are ⬇️ 14% as of November 2025.
Illegal parking complaints outside the CRZ are ⬆️ 17% → Zone reduction opposite of trend in the rest of NYC.
Citi Bike trips within the CRZ are ⬆️ 5% as of November.
Citi Bike trips into the CRZ from Brooklyn and Queens are ⬆️ 6%.
Persons seriously injured in crashes are ⬇️ 8.6% in the CRZ as of November.
Persons seriously injured outside the CRZ are ⬇️ 1.6% → Zone reduction ~5 times more.
🏛 Politics & Pushback
Challenges continue, but the program stands strong and has been a resounding success.
Federal challenges continue: The U.S. Department of Transportation attempted to revoke approval, but New York defended the program in court.
Lawsuits remain: At least a dozen suits were filed in 2025, including from New Jersey officials, but the program remains intact.
Supporters remain steadfast buoyed by strong evidence that congestion pricing is simply good policy.
Written by
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David Oke
Student Research Assistant, Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program
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Grace Walz
Student Research Assistant, Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program