After one year of congestion pricing in New York, policymakers, planners, and the public are eager to know what impact the tolls have had on midtown Manhattan and the rest of the city. Two Urban Planning & Policy students, David Oke (BA ’27) and Grace Walz (MUP ’26), helped to answer this critical question as research assistants at the new Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program (SSTRP) within the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter. SSTRP teamed up with the Regional Plan Association to analyze data on the effects of the tolls one year later, culminating in a new data index published on January 5.

The students analyzed data on topics ranging from transit ridership to traffic noise complaints. They found that:

  • The number of vehicles entering the Congestion Reduction Zone (CRZ) is down 11% from the previous year as of November.

  • Subway ridership through December is up 7% from last year, now reaching 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

  • Traffic noise complaints within the CRZ are down 23% from the previous year as of November.

  • Citi Bike trips within the CRZ are up 5% from the previous year as of November.

  • Toll tunnel traffic into the CRZ is down 3.1% from last year.

The students’ analysis helps to make a strong case for the benefits of the congestion pricing policy and can inspire other cities to consider the benefits of a similar policy.

The report is already making waves. Bloomberg covered the analysis after its release, and the report is also being shared widely by advocates. At only four months old, the SSTRP is establishing itself as a powerhouse in transportation research, fueled by exceptional UPP students!