June 25, 2025 New York City's groundbreaking congestion pricing program achieved a significant milestone in May, raking in its highest monthly revenue yet in 2025. Despite ongoing legal challenges, the system, which charges most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, generated an impressive $61 million last month. This surge in funds signals a positive trajectory for the controversial program, even as questions persist about its impact on traffic and how the money will be spent.
May's revenue represents a notable jump from April's $56.7 million, bringing the total net revenue for 2025 to $219 million. This puts the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) firmly on track to meet its ambitious goal of generating $500 million this year for crucial transit improvement projects.
Why the Surge in May?
Jai Patel, the MTA’s co-chief financial officer, attributes May's record-breaking figures to a combination of factors, primarily the month's 31 days and warmer weather. "It’s actually the highest month we’ve seen," Patel noted, adding that increased traffic within the MTA's bridges and tunnels during warmer months typically correlates with higher activity in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ).
However, not all of that revenue is pure profit. Patel also revealed that expenses for the program totaled $10.9 million in May, highlighting the operational costs associated with running such a large-scale initiative.
Is Congestion Pricing Really Easing Traffic?
While the financial news is positive, the impact on traffic flow remains a key point of discussion. The MTA reported that 2,076,163 fewer vehicles entered the CRZ in May compared to the historical baseline. The average daily vehicle entries in the tolling zone dropped from 647,200 (historically) to 580,227 with congestion pricing in effect.
Despite these numbers, some drivers remain skeptical. J.R. Weldon, a Manhattan resident and car-share user, expressed mixed feelings: "Given that most who drive in Manhattan would be reluctant to say that traffic congestion was meaningfully diminished, the issue becomes one of what has happened to the money collected from fee collection.”
However, others are experiencing a noticeable difference. One Long Island commuter described his experience traversing the city as "so much easier" this year, even with the onset of warmer weather. Independent analysis supports this, showing 25% fewer traffic jams in Manhattan, 10% fewer in the Bronx, and 14% fewer in parts of New Jersey.
Danny Pearstein, Policy and Communication Director for the Riders Alliance, emphasized the program's success in mitigating the usual summer traffic uptick. "The program is continuing to exceed New Yorkers’ expectations," he stated, adding that it's "curbing its worst impact and earning even more money to fix the subway."
