Congestion tolling generating revenue, reducing city traffic, Hochul touts at 1-year mark of program

New York City’s $9 congestion tolling is working so well in reducing traffic and generating revenue that there may be no need to raise it in a couple years as originally planned, Gov. Kathy Hochul said as she celebrated the anniversary of the program.

Joined by new Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Metropolitan Transportation Authority leaders and dozens of other plan supporters at a Manhattan rally, Hochul touted the success of the first-in-the-nation congestion tolling program, which came online Jan. 5 of last year.

One year in, Hochul said the program has already resulted in an 11% reduction in the number of vehicles in Manhattan’s congestion zone, a 22% reduction in air pollution, and significantly faster travel times at bridges and tunnels connecting to Manhattan and for buses in the city.

The tolls have also generated $550 million in revenue dedicated to MTA infrastructure projects, with about 10% committed to the Long Island Rail Road.

The MTA’s original plan would have charged vehicles $15 for driving below 60th Street in Manhattan, but Hochul instead opted for a plan to start the program with a $9 toll, then gradually ramp it up, with an increase to $12 scheduled in 2028 and to the full $15 in 2031.

But, Hochul on Monday said she’d like to “keep the price point” where it is.

"I think the $9 is working. We’re getting the money we need," said Hochul, noting federal authorities would likely weigh in on future rate adjustments. "We’re doing well. And we’re going to kind of continue to study where that is."

Hochul said while there were initially "a lot of people who really thought this was going to result in their lives being affected negatively out on Long Island," opposition to the new tolls has significantly subsided over the last 12 months.

"It’s calmed down because people like getting across the bridges faster," Hochul said. "They’re happy not to sit in traffic."

But Jack Nierenberg, vice president of Passengers United, a transportation advocacy group, said Hochul should not mistake congestion tolling opponents’ resignation for support, as some Long Islanders have given up on coming into Manhattan altogether.

"A lot of the opposition ... you just don’t hear it, but it’s still there," Nierenberg said. "It’s coming in the form of people struggling to continue to come into the city, because they don’t have any other options available to them."

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.