Manhattan Buses Got a Bit Faster in First Month of Congestion Pricing
Congestion Pricing Yields Gains in Bus Speed
Almost all of Manhattan’s notoriously pokey crosstown buses that run south of 60th Street have sped up — slightly — in the weeks since congestion pricing took effect, MTA data shows.
January peak-hour bus speeds for east-west lines operating within the congestion relief zone on weekdays reveals that 11 of the 13 local and Select Bus Service routes analyzed by THE CITY picked up the pace between 1 and 5% from the same period in 2024.
Rider Feedback
"There are fewer cars on the road at the time that I travel, it’s a little faster," said Tom Florey, 53, an M50 rider who usually travels between Second and Sixth avenues. "Granted, my New York is a bit smaller than others probably, but it has helped reduce the time I spend to cross town."
M50 Bus Speeds Up
The M50, traditionally among the slowest buses in all of Manhattan, saw its average weekday speed increase by 4% in January compared to a year earlier, when it was plodding along at 4.82 miles per hour. That speed has now ticked up to just over 5 mph.
Express Bus Gains
The gains from congestion pricing have been even more pronounced for express bus riders. Commutes on Hudson River and East River crossings for several express bus routes linking the boroughs with Manhattan have, on some lines, shaved more than 15 minutes off commuting times.
Rider Feedback
"It really has improved and I think it’s noticeable," Florey said Thursday morning while waiting for an eastbound bus on East 49th Street near Second Avenue.
MTA Data
Tom Florey waits to board an M50 bus in Midtown, Feb. 20, 2025. Credit: Jose Martinez/THE CITY
Congestion Pricing Under Threat
MTA officials and transit advocates have touted speedier service for city buses — some of the slowest in the country — as among the gains from a vehicle-tolling program that’s helped unclog streets in the congestion relief zone. But it now faces an existential crisis after President Trump declared "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD!" on Wednesday.
Legal Challenge
Trump’s attempt to derail a years-in-the-making program that was designed to cut congestion and raise billions for transit upgrades set off an instant legal challenge from the MTA in Manhattan Federal Court.
Expert Analysis
"Crosstown buses have been the slowest in New York City since forever," said Jaqi Cohen, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign’s director of climate & equity policy. "And in one fell swoop, we were able to do the unthinkable and speed them up simply by flipping the switch on congestion pricing."
Bus Speeds in Context
But the MTA data also showed that nearly all buses on Manhattan routes now move more slowly during the week than they did five years earlier — with last month’s average bus speeds for routes in the borough at 5.9 mph, down from 6 mph in 2021.
Staten Island Buses Fastest
That’s in marked contrast to Staten Island buses, which are the city’s fastest, with an average of 13.9 mph in December, according to a February report from the New York City Independent Budget Office.
MTA Chairperson’s Take
Janno Lieber, the MTA’s chairperson and chief executive, on Wednesday likened Manhattan’s crosstown streets to a "death zone for drivers," while discussing how speeds have increased since the Jan. 5 launch of congestion pricing.
Rider Feedback
Riders on local crosstown routes said they are happy with any progress.
Conclusion
While the gains are modest, the data suggests that congestion pricing has had a positive impact on bus speeds in Manhattan. However, the program’s future remains uncertain as the MTA faces a legal challenge from the federal government.
FAQs
- What is congestion pricing?
- Congestion pricing is a program that charges drivers a fee to enter certain areas of Manhattan during peak hours to reduce traffic congestion and raise revenue for transit upgrades.
- What are the benefits of congestion pricing?
- The program aims to reduce traffic congestion, decrease travel times, and raise revenue for public transportation improvements.
- Is the future of congestion pricing uncertain?
- Yes, the program faces a legal challenge from the federal government, which could potentially derail the initiative.
