New York traffic falls after $9 tolls are introduced

New York City’s traffic has fallen since the vehicle toll scheme went into effect on Jan. 5, transportation officials said.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said 273,000 fewer vehicles entered the central business district Monday through Friday, with traffic down 7.5% compared to estimates for January weekdays without the scheme.

The congestion charge – the first of its kind in the US – charges car drivers up to $9 (£7) a day, with different rates for other vehicles.

The congestion zone covers the area south of Central Park, including such famous places as the Empire State Building, Times Square and the financial district around Wall Street.

“The early data confirms what New Yorkers have been telling us all week: traffic is down, streets feel safer and buses are moving faster,” said Jano Lieber, who heads the MTA.

Motorists are also saving time, while local and express buses are moving faster, especially during morning commutes, the MTA posted on X.

The scheme aims to ease New York’s notorious transport woes and raise billions for the public transport network.

Most drivers pay $9 once a day to enter the congestion zone during peak hours and $2.25 at other times.

Small trucks and non-commuter buses pay $14.40 to enter Manhattan during peak hours, while large trucks and tour buses pay $21.60.

Although the charge was welcomed by many, it was met with a lot of resistance.

The most vocal opposition has come from President-elect Donald Trump, a New York native who has vowed to end the scheme when he returns to office this month.

Last year, New York City was named the world’s most congested urban area for the second year in a row, according to INRIX, a traffic data analysis company.