March 19, 2026 NEW YORK, NY They said it would kill the city. They said Manhattan would become a ghost town. They were wrong.

New data just released by the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee (PCAC) shows that in the first full year of New York’s $9 base-toll for drivers entering Lower Manhattan, the subway didn't just survive—it exploded. We’re talking about 90 million additional rides in a single year.

If you thought New Yorkers would just stay home to avoid the "Congestion Relief Zone," the numbers tell a much more crowded story.

The "7.7% Surge" No One Predicted

Between 2024 and 2025, total rail ridership jumped from 1.21 billion to a staggering 1.3 billion. That 7.7% increase is double the growth seen the previous year.

While critics argued that remote work and post-pandemic fatigue would keep the turnstiles quiet, Brian Fritsch of the PCAC points to one clear catalyst: the toll.

“While it’s not possible to ascribe all the ridership increases last year to the start of the program, clear trends have emerged,” Fritsch stated. “Congestion Pricing is working!”

By the Numbers: Where the People Are Going

The report effectively guts the argument that the toll would stifle the city's economy. Instead of staying away, people are simply switching from four wheels to the steel rails.

• The CBD Connection: Total rides into the Central Business District (Manhattan below 60th St) rose by 7.1%, adding 20 million trips to the heart of the city.

• The Weekend Warrior: Saturday and Sunday ridership outpaced the average, spiking by 9.4%.

• The Winners: 39 stations saw ridership grow by more than 20%.

• The Crown Jewel: Times Square-42nd Street remains the king of the commute, pulling in 2.5 million new rides on its own.

Success or Statistical Magic?

The MTA is already taking a victory lap. Spokesperson Aaron Donovan called the findings a "resounding success," noting that ridership is up both inside and outside the toll zone. Beyond just moving people, proponents argue the city is quieter, the air is cleaner, and the gridlock that once paralyzed Manhattan is finally starting to loosen.

However, it wasn't all sunshine for every station. A few dozen stops saw decreases—mostly due to heavy construction on the A line—and a massive 300% spike at the Rockaway Pkwy L station was flagged as a statistical outlier due to new transfer rules.

The Road Ahead

With the data favoring the MTA, the push for the next phase of the program is already heating up. The PCAC is calling for even more weekend service and—much to the chagrin of drivers—staying the course with scheduled toll increases in the future.

The message from transit advocates is clear: If you want to get across town in 2026, you better have your OMNY card ready, because the era of the easy drive is officially over.