January 6, 2026 One year ago, the first cameras flickered to life above 60th Street, sparking a firestorm of protest and predictions of a "ghost town" Manhattan. Today, the numbers are in, and they are nothing short of a statistical knockout.

Since the $9 base toll launched on January 6, 2024, the Central Business District (CBD) has undergone a radical transformation. What was once a perennially clogged heart of the city is now breathing again—and the "naysayers" Governor Kathy Hochul once feared are finding it harder to argue with the hard data.

The Great Disappearing Act: 27 Million Fewer Cars

The headline figure is massive: 27 million fewer vehicles entered Lower Manhattan over the last twelve months. That averages out to 73,000 fewer cars clogging the streets every single day—an 11% drop that has cascaded into a series of "quality of life" wins for the city.

According to the MTA and Governor Hochul’s office, the results have outpaced even the most optimistic projections:

• Need for Speed: Car speeds are up 4% on weekdays, while bus speeds have climbed 2.3%.

• Breathing Room: Air pollution plummeted by 22%.

• Quiet Streets: Noise complaints to 311 within the zone dropped by 17%.

• The Bridge Effect: Crossings into Manhattan are now 23% faster.

The "Diner" Defense: Why the Economy Didn't Crash

The most feared outcome of congestion pricing was an economic exodus. Critics argued the toll would kill Broadway and shutter local shops. Instead, the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) reports that 16 million more people visited the CBD than the previous year.

Sales tax revenue is up 6.3%, and private-sector job growth in the zone is doubling the national average. It seems the "foot traffic" economy is thriving where the "bumper-to-bumper" economy failed.

“The results are extraordinary,” Governor Hochul told reporters Monday, flanked by MTA Chair Janno Lieber and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In a nod to her controversial 2024 pause of the program, she added: “To any naysayers out there... I’ll meet you at my local diner.”

A Billion-Dollar Face-Lift for the Subway

The $9 tolls aren't just sitting in a vault; they are fueling a $15 billion transit revolution. The program generated over $500 million in its first year alone, allowing the MTA to greenlight massive infrastructure projects.

In December, the board approved $1.75 billion in contracts, including:

• Signal Modernization: Upgrading the aging A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.

• Accessibility: New elevators for five major subway stations.

• Ridership Surge: The subway saw 1.3 billion trips in 2025—a 7% jump as commuters ditched cars for the rails.

The Federal Showdown Looms

Despite the local victory lap, a dark cloud remains on the horizon. The program is currently locked in a high-stakes legal battle with the federal government.

President Trump’s Department of Transportation, led by Sean Duffy, has repeatedly ordered New York to dismantle the tolling infrastructure. The MTA responded with a federal lawsuit to protect the program, and District Judge Lewis Liman is set to hear oral arguments later this month.

For now, advocates like Ben Furnas of Transportation Alternatives say the "audacious dream" is now a proven reality. "The naysayers were proven wrong," Furnas said. "Congestion pricing has brought safer streets, cleaner air, and billions for public transportation."

As Manhattan enters Year Two of the tolling era, the world is watching. If the data holds, the "New York experiment" may soon become the blueprint for every major city in America.