A new poll released on Monday shows that a majority of New York City voters want congestion pricing to remain in place.
NYC voters, 42 to 35%, want the MTA’s congestion pricing program to stay active, according to the Siena College poll released on March 10.
The poll, which was conducted from March 2 to March 6, surveyed 806 registered voters throughout the state to assess how well Gov. Kathy Hochul is handling key issues in New York.
At the forefront of those issues is congestion pricing, which hit a roadblock on Feb. 19 when the U.S. Department of Transportation announced in a letter to Hochul that it was rescinding federal approval of the program, which charges drivers a base toll of $9 to enter Manhattan south of 61st Street.
Hochul and the state-run MTA responded to the letter by filing a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration in federal court; the tolling program remains active to date pending litigation.
Although many NYC residents backed Hochul’s response, in which she said she was “in fight mode within seconds” of receiving the letter, the poll results show that many voters upstate and in nearby suburbs want Trump to win in the fight over congestion pricing.
New York voters outside of the Big Apple mostly want congestion pricing eliminated, 40% to 33%, according to the poll. Downstate suburbanites also say get rid of it, 48% to 30%.
“A plurality of voters wants to see congestion pricing eliminated, as Trump has called for,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said. “Pluralities of New York City voters and Democrats want congestion pricing to remain, Hochul’s position.”
Greenberg added that in June 2024, voters approved Hochul’s temporary halt of congestion pricing 45% to 23%. Then, in December, voters opposed her announced reinstatement of the program, 51 to 29%.
Meanwhile, despite polls, lawsuits, and controversy, congestion pricing continued to show signs of success during its early run.
In January alone, the program brought in over $48 million, which is expected to go toward much-needed transit infrastructure improvements, such as station accessibility, the Second Avenue subway construction, and signal updates.
By its third week, congestion pricing had reduced traffic within the congestion relief zone by 7.5% overall. Ridership on commuter rails increased in January, and subway ridership increased as crime went down in February.
‘Gridlock down, buses moving faster’
Transit advocacy groups applauded congestion pricing’s support in NYC, per the Siena poll.
“Popular support for New York’s congestion relief program continues to spread,” Danny Pearlstein, policy and communications director at the Riders Alliance, said.
Pearlstein also noted the high percentage of voters in the poll who supported the tolls while acknowledging the governor’s efforts to save them.
“Governor Hochul’s brave effort to solve traffic and fix transit leads by a strong seven points in New York City,” he said. “With gridlock down, buses moving faster, and revenue rolling in for reliable trains and accessible stations, New York proves that our government can work for the people. Of course, people who see congestion relief up close are the biggest champions of its success.”
Brian Fritsch, associate director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, is not shocked that New Yorkers support the program.
“It’s no surprise congestion pricing is proving increasingly popular among New Yorkers as they see the program in action, reducing travel times for drivers, buses, and emergency vehicles, improving air quality, and making the streets safer,” he said. “This is especially true among New York City residents who now support congestion pricing by seven points, up from a 24-point deficit just three months ago.”
Fritsch described the trend as similar to what happened once congestion pricing was implemented in other cities around the globe.
“This trend is similar to examples of international congestion pricing we’ve seen. Once it goes in, people recognize the value it brings,” he said. “There is little doubt in our mind that the program will be increasingly popular as the MTA can put congestion pricing funds in action to make service faster, safer, and more reliable.”
