The Comedy Cellar: Live from the Table Is NYC Traffic Back (Noam says it is)? Data Gurus on the NYC Congestion Pricing Experiment
Sep 26, 2025
Meet the Moshes Brothers—Benjamin, an Economics student from Brown, and Joshua, a savvy software developer. They dive into NYC's congestion pricing experiment, revealing how their data shows early traffic reductions and boosts in public transit usage. The duo discusses the challenges of attributing changes solely to pricing, alongside insights on varying regional traffic trends and business impacts. With their tech-savvy approach, they also explore innovative ideas for future pricing models. Get ready for a data-driven perspective on urban traffic!
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Big Drops At Crossings, Smaller Change Inside
- Bridges and tunnels into Manhattan (especially from New Jersey) showed large traffic decreases after congestion pricing began.
- Traffic reductions inside the congestion zone were smaller, with modest spillover increases on nearby routes.
Day-To-Day Variation Masks Effects
- Individual crossing improvements vary by day and tunnel, so average gains can hide large weekday differences.
- Some peak periods (e.g., Lincoln Tunnel) saw big time drops while other days showed minimal change.
Weekend Traffic Dropped Sharply
- Weekend tunnel travel times fell dramatically compared with pre-policy, suggesting leisure trips declined or shifted modes.
- This likely reduced some weekend car traffic into Manhattan more than weekday commuter traffic.