New York needs
THE CONGESTION
RELIEF ZONE
Excess traffic is bad for
businesses, residents, and visitors
Gridlock is bad for the economy, environment, and quality of life for people who live, work, and visit New York City – and it comes at a cost. Employees on the clock waste time sitting in traffic. Workers get to their shift late because the bus is delayed. Ambulances are stuck behind cars when every second matters.
New Yorkers lose 117 hours on average sitting in traffic every year, costing them nearly $2,000 in lost productivity and wasted time. Plus, more traffic means more air pollution and associated health impacts.
Congestion is only getting worse
Congestion has clogged New York City streets for decades. Over 700,000 vehicles enter the Manhattan Central Business District (CBD) daily. And drivers can feel the effects, too – since 2010, average travel speeds in the CBD have decreased 23%, from 9.1 mph to just 7.1 mph.
New York’s extensive
transit network needs investment
Every weekday, the MTA carries nearly 6 million riders on trains and buses through a vast web of stations, tunnels, tracks, and other critical infrastructure that requires continuous investment.
Revenue generated by Congestion Pricing will fund some of the region’s most important transit capital projects, including:
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Accessibility improvements at over 20 stations
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Modern signal systems on segments of the A/C and B/D/F/M lines for over 1.5 million daily riders
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Hundreds of new electric buses
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Second Ave Subway Phase 2 extension to East Harlem
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Critical projects that keep our system in good working condition, such as structural repairs, power system improvements, and upgrades to bus depots.
Everyone benefits from congestion pricing
Congestion Pricing will improve quality of life by reducing vehicular traffic, improving air quality, and making New York a safer and more livable place.
For drivers, Congestion Pricing will reduce traffic and make it easier to get to, from, and around the Congestion Relief Zone. Congestion Pricing means fewer cars on the road, so those who still need to drive will have faster trips and spend less time in traffic.
For public transit riders, fewer vehicles on the road means faster bus and paratransit trips. Plus, the billions of dollars in funding generated by Congestion Pricing will bring critical improvements to subways, buses, and commuter railroads, ensuring riders have faster and more reliable commutes. Even more, this funding will support 23,000 jobs throughout New York State.
For pedestrians or cyclists, streets with fewer vehicles are safer streets. Plus, fewer vehicles will make for a quieter, cleaner, and more livable city.