Congestion Pricing Revenue Hits Revenue Targets in February: MTA

NEW YORK—In just two months of operation, the congestion relief program is ticking all the boxes it was designed for: it’s meeting revenue projections and it’s reducing traffic by taking people out of their cars and putting them into subways and buses. The MTA said on Fri., March 21, that it’s on track to meet net revenue projections of $500 million for needed improvements and upgrades to the mass transit system.

MTA Co-Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel noted, “The program continues to reduce traffic while generating projected funds for critical transit projects.” New data from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28 show tolls from the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) generated $51.9 million in revenue with a net after expenses of $40.4 million.

Of the $51.9 million that was collected from the tolling program, 24% came from taxis and for hire vehicles ($12.3 million), 66% from passenger vehicles, 9% from trucks, and 1% from buses and motorcycles.

Expenses from the program, including operating camera infrastructure and customer service, amounted to $9.5 million. Combined with another $2 million for mitigation efforts, expenses totaled $11.5 million. This resulted in a net surplus of $40.4 million.

New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with business and transit leaders, held a rally in Manhattan on March 21, cheering that all things in Manhattan’s Central Business District (CBD) are moving in the right directions. “Since congestion pricing took effect over two months ago, traffic is down and business is up – and that’s the kind of progress we’re going to keep delivering for New Yorkers,” Gov. Hochul said. “Every day, more New Yorkers are seeing and hearing the benefits for our commutes, quality of life and economy – and we’re not going back.”

MTA CEO and Chair Janno Lieber said, “Congestion relief is working, cars and buses are moving faster, foot traffic is up and even noise complaints are down. That’s why in poll after poll more and more New Yorkers are saying they want those benefits to stay – and they will.”

Despite its opposition to the tolls, the Trump Administration gave New York a 30-day extension of the March 21 deadline to shut down the toll collection. In response, the governor is driving home the positive benefits that New Yorkers are seeing and experiencing since the tolls went into effect Jan. 5. These include:

Traffic is down 11% in the CBD in February compared to the same time last year.
. Three million fewer vehicles entered the CBD in January and February compared to the same time last year.
Traffic is moving up to 30% faster on bridge and tunnel crossings in February compared to the same time last year.
Commuters saving up to 21 minutes per trip into the CBD.
Bus service is faster throughout the CBD, with up to 23 customer trips on express buses delayed 10 minutes or more.
Complaints about excessive car horn honking within the CBD were down by more than 70% in January and February compared to the same time last year.
Broadway show attendance was up 19% in January and February compared to the same time last year.
Restaurant reservations in the CBD rose 5% from January to mid-March compared to the same time last year.
Retail sales in the CBD are on track to be $900 million higher in 2025 compared to last year.
Workers coming to the office in the CBD on an average weekday increased 6.6% in February compared to the same time last year.

According to the MTA, transit ridership in January and February 2025 has grown significantly compared to the same time last year—bus ridership is up 9%; subway ridership is up 6%; Long Island Rail Road ridership is up 8% and Metro-North Railroad ridership up 4%.

Published: March 25, 2025.