New York traffic falls after $9 congestion fee introduced

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

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

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

Most drivers are charged $9 once per day to enter the congestion zone at peak hours, and $2.25 at other times.

Small trucks and non-commuter buses pay $14.40 to enter Manhattan at peak times, while larger trucks and tourist buses pay a $21.60 fee.

While the charge has been welcomed by many, it has encountered plenty of opposition.

The most high-profile opposition has come from President-elect Donald Trump, a native New Yorker who has vowed to kill 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 firm.