One Year of Proven Results – and Counting!
Traffic is down and business is up. Since January 5, 2025, New Yorkers have benefitted from the first year of America’s first congestion relief program. It’s been transformative, and the data backs it up: 23.7 million fewer cars have entered the congestion relief zone, air pollution has declined throughout the region, and visitation within the zone is up 1.5 million people compared to this time last year.
This means shorter commutes, funding for essential transit improvements and cleaner air for the entire region.
How has congestion relief impacted you?
Congestion Relief is Transforming the New York Region
New York’s congestion relief program has generated more than $468 million in revenue to date and is on track to raise over $500 million in 2025 alone. This funding is already going toward projects that will benefit businesses and residents across the region, including:
The Second Avenue subway extension, which will provide much-needed train line access in East Harlem from 96th Street to 125th Street to an additional 110,000 people daily and add three accessible stations to the Q train
The Interborough Express train line, which will connect transit deserts in Brooklyn and Queens
Accessibility upgrades at 23 subway stations, including elevator installation and escalator replacements, to create a public transit system that works for all
Air pollution has decreased citywide, with fine particulate matter levels down 22% in the congestion relief zone (CRZ) and air pollution declining in the five boroughs and surrounding suburbs
Over 500 new buses, including express models, and 435 new, modern railcars
Create more than 100,000 jobs across the country and funding for MTA projects and contracts throughout the Tri-State area, ensuring economic and transit benefits for the broader region.
What is Congestion Relief?
Congestion relief is a program approved in 2019 by New York State to fund essential transit upgrades and improvements, reduce traffic, and help New York meet ambitious climate and environmental goals. The program collects a toll on cars that enter Manhattan’s Central Business District below 60th Street - one of the most congested zones in the nation. After years of planning to ensure the program would successfully reduce traffic, fund public transportation and improve air quality, the nation’s first congestion relief program launched in January 2025.
Now, congestion relief is here, and it’s working. That means:
Better, more reliable transit: The program is projected to fund $15 billion in subway, bus, and rail improvements to the MTA network
Less traffic, faster commutes: Fewer cars mean shorter travel times for drivers and transit riders, with commuters are saving as much as 21 minutes on their trips throughout the region and bus speeds in the CRZ moving up to 25% faster
Cleaner air and safer streets: With fewer vehicles on the road—about 71,000 less entering the CRZ each day—traffic injuries have dropped 15%, and air quality is improving
An economic boom for the congestion relief zone: With Manhattan foot traffic surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2025, retail sales are on track to be $900 million higher in 2025 compared to 2024
Congestion relief works. New Yorkers are already seeing the benefits. Better commutes are here to stay.
“We can have world-class transit that is fast, reliable, and accessible. Anything less isn’t worthy of the world’s greatest city.”