One year since New York City began charging drivers a $9 toll, state officials say the controversial program cut traffic by 11% and raised some $550 million.
The revenue lets the Metropolitan Transportation Authority proceed with $15 billion in construction projects that were at risk under a previous budget gap. Their plans include extending the Second Avenue Subway, buying new railcars, and upgrading signals on the A, C, and F lines to reduce delays for commuters in Brooklyn and Queens.
The toll faced opposition from suburban drivers, Republicans, New Jersians, and the federal government, who all argued that it would hurt the economy by making it too hard to freely enter the city.
But the MTA released data showing that businesses in the congestion zone are thriving. A December 2025 report from the NYC Economic Development Corporation showed that Broadway ticket sales rose by 23%, and the city saw its best year for office leasing since 2002. Empty storefronts in the area dropped, too, and sales tax in New York City rose by more than 6% through November. That local spending grew three times faster than in neighboring Westchester County and six times faster than in Nassau County.
And those who drive still drive into the congestion zone arrive at their destination sooner. Speeds at the Holland Tunnel up by 51% during the morning rush. Queensboro Bridge speeds increased by 29%, and Williamsburg Bridge traffic also moved 28% faster, CBDTP found.
And the neighborhood is also quieter, with traffic noise complaints in the zone falling by 23%. Crime within the transit system also appears to have dropped 5.5% compared to the previous year.
MTA also said the subways and trains throughout the city, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley are more punctual than they’ve been in almost a decade.
President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have tried to stop the program by revoking its pilot status and withholding federal transit grants, arguing that the model punishes car drivers. During a congressional hearing in July, Duffy argued that rising subway violence made public transit a dangerous alternative.