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The Short-Run Effects of Congestion Pricing in New York City

Author

Listed:
  • Cody Cook
  • Aboudy Kreidieh
  • Shoshana Vasserman
  • Hunt Allcott
  • Neha Arora
  • Freek van Sambeek
  • Andrew Tomkins
  • Eray Turkel

Abstract

Starting in January 2025, New York City became the first city in the United States to introduce a fee for vehicles entering its central business district (CBD). Using Google Maps Traffic Trends, we show that the policy increased speeds in the CBD, had spillovers onto non-CBD roads, and reduced estimated vehicle emissions throughout the metro area. Relative to a set of control cities, average traffic speeds in NYC’s CBD increased by 15% following the introduction of congestion pricing, with larger effects during the most congested hours. Roads commonly traversed on routes to the CBD before the policy have also seen an increase in speeds and a decrease in estimated vehicle CO₂ emission rates. Overall, these speed changes reduced realized travel times on trips to and within the CBD by approximately 8%. The increase in speed is greatest in neighborhoods closer to the CBD, with no significant difference between neighborhoods with different income levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Cody Cook & Aboudy Kreidieh & Shoshana Vasserman & Hunt Allcott & Neha Arora & Freek van Sambeek & Andrew Tomkins & Eray Turkel, 2025. "The Short-Run Effects of Congestion Pricing in New York City," NBER Working Papers 33584, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33584
    Note: IO PE
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy
    • R5 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis

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