“The early data confirms what New Yorkers have been telling us all week: traffic is down, streets feel safer and buses are moving faster,” said Jano Lieber, who heads the MTA.
Motorists are also saving time, while local and express buses are moving faster, especially on morning commutes, the MTA posted on X.
The scheme aims to alleviate New York’s notorious transport woes and raise billions for the public transport network.
Most drivers pay $9 once a day to enter the congestion zone during peak hours and $2.25 at other times.
Small trucks and non-commuter buses pay $14.40 to enter Manhattan during rush hour, while large trucks and tour buses pay $21.60.
Although the indictment was welcomed by many, it faced a lot of opposition.
The most vocal opposition has come from President-elect Donald Trump, a New York native who has vowed to end the scheme when he returns to office this month.
Last year, New York City was named the world’s most congested urban area for the second year in a row, according to INRIX, a traffic data analysis company.
