Turns Out Congestion Pricing Has Been Good for Drivers in the Suburbs, Too

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Fool

New York City's congestion pricing scheme was widely expected to benefit pedestrians, but it appears the policy also had an unexpected positive impact on drivers in the suburbs. A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that traffic backups decreased in outer boroughs and suburban areas outside of Manhattan's central business district, resulting in shorter travel times for commuters.

According to the research, which analyzed Google Maps traffic trends and trip data, traffic speeds increased about 15% since congestion pricing took effect. This means that even those who live farther away from Manhattan are benefiting from reduced traffic congestion. The study also found that drivers who pay the $9 toll to enter the congested area save approximately three minutes per journey, a collective total of 83,000 hours per week.

While some critics might argue that traffic simply shifted outside the designated zone, the research suggests that trips are getting shorter in those areas too. Neighborhoods closer to the congestion zone experienced increases in traffic speeds of about 8%, with drivers avoiding the toll zone saving an additional 461,000 hours per week in traffic.

Interestingly, the study found that while individual trips may not be significantly faster outside the congested area, the aggregate impact is substantial due to the sheer volume of commutes. Overall, the research indicates that congestion pricing has reduced overall traffic volumes rather than simply displacing congestion.

The findings are a welcome surprise for those who initially questioned the effectiveness of the policy. However, there's reason to believe the administration may still scrap the experiment, despite mounting evidence of its success.
 
I don’t usually comment but... I was skeptical about this whole congestion pricing thing, like, how could it possibly benefit drivers in the suburbs? 🤔 But apparently, that 15% increase in traffic speeds is no joke. It's crazy to think that even people who live way out of Manhattan are getting a faster commute because of this policy. And I mean, those extra three minutes per journey might not seem like much, but it adds up – we're talking about 83,000 hours of saved time per week! 🕒 That's some serious productivity right there.
 
man I'm loving this new devolopment on congestion pricing in NYC 🚗💨 it seems like the suburbs are actually benefiting from all this congestion... i mean who wouldn't want less traffic jams? 🙌 and 15% increase in traffic speeds is crazy talk! but seriously, the study says it's not just about individual trips being faster, it's about how many people are commuting overall. so even though some folks might be driving longer distances to avoid the toll, we're still seeing a reduction in total traffic volumes 📉
 
OMG, this is crazy! 😲 So it turns out that the congestion pricing scheme in NYC wasn't just gonna hurt drivers but actually HELP them too?! 🤯 I mean, 15% increase in traffic speeds? That's insane! And it's not like they're even driving directly into Manhattan anymore, trips are getting shorter everywhere. Like, I get why some people doubted this policy at first but the science is clear: congestion pricing = less traffic all around. Now can we talk about how much time those $9 tolls save?! 🕰️ 83k hours a week? Mind blown! 😂 Let's hope the admin doesn't change their mind now
 
Just read about this study on NYC's congestion pricing scheme and I'm loving it! 🚗💨 The fact that traffic backups are decreasing in outer boroughs and suburban areas is a total game changer for commuters everywhere. 15% increase in traffic speeds? That's amazing, especially considering how much time we waste stuck in traffic every day. 🕰️ It's also cool to see the aggregate impact of reduced traffic volumes on the environment and air quality - less congestion means less pollution! 🌿👍 So let's all be optimistic about this policy experiment and hope it gets extended or even becomes a model for other cities. Who knew congestion pricing could be a win-win? 🤓 #CongestionPricingWins #SustainabilityMatters #NYCsuccessStory
 
😊 I'm loving this unexpected twist on NYC's congestion pricing scheme! It's like when you're binge-watching your favorite show and suddenly it hits you - the plot just changed direction 🔄. But seriously, who would've thought that traffic in the suburbs would actually decrease? I guess you could say it's a 'twinning' effect 🤝, where drivers outside of Manhattan are benefiting from reduced congestion too! The numbers are pretty impressive - 83k hours saved per week and 461k more hours in neighborhoods near the toll zone? That's like a whole lot of extra time for coffee breaks or whatever ☕️. Can't wait to see how this plays out long-term 🤔, but for now, let's just say congestion pricing is 'pricing' itself as a success 💸! 👍
 
I gotta say, I'm loving this news 🙌! Congestion pricing in NYC wasn't just gonna benefit pedestrians, it seems like it was also a game-changer for drivers outside Manhattan too 😊. I mean, 15% increase in traffic speeds and saving people up to three minutes per journey is no joke ⏱️. It's all about the aggregate impact, right? The more commutes that happen outside the zone, the faster everyone gets 🚗💨. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good 8% increase in traffic speeds for neighborhoods close to the congestion zone? 🤩 I'm not surprised the critics are backpedaling on this one... it looks like congestion pricing might just be the silver bullet we needed 💡.
 
I was thinking this would be a major win for NYC but now I'm impressed how it's actually helped drivers outside Manhattan too! 🤯 15% increase in traffic speeds is crazy and those extra hours saved per week are huge. It just goes to show that congestion pricing isn't always as black-and-white as people thought it'd be. Maybe we can learn from this to make transportation planning more effective?
 
🚗 I gotta say, I was expecting all this congestion pricing business to be a total mess, but it looks like NYC actually did something right! 🙌 The study shows that drivers in outer boroughs and suburbs are reaping some serious benefits from reduced traffic congestion - we're talkin' 15% speed boosts and all that. It's not just about the toll payers either, neighborhoods closer to the congested area are seeing 8% speed increases too! 🚀 The fact that individual trips might be a bit shorter outside the zone doesn't seem to matter when you consider all the commutes addin' up - it's like a big ol' traffic jam solution! 💡 Still, I gotta wonder why they're thinkin' about scrapbin' this experiment... the data is pretty clear, right? 🤔
 
I gotta say, I'm surprised by this study 🤔! Congestion pricing was supposed to be all about reducing traffic in Manhattan, but it's having a ripple effect on the rest of the city 🌆. The fact that drivers in outer boroughs and suburbs are experiencing shorter travel times is a huge win for everyone 🎉. I mean, who doesn't hate sitting stuck in traffic? 😩 It's like the old adage goes - there's no such thing as a free lunch, but in this case, it seems we got a little extra bang for our buck! 💸
 
🙄 I mean, who knew charging people to drive in a crowded city would actually make life better for everyone else? 🚗💸 Like, what a genius idea! Reducing traffic congestion and making travel times faster for all - it's like they're trying to solve the world's problems or something. And let's not forget about those sweet 83,000 hours saved per week - that's some quality time folks can spend doing... whatever. 🕰️
 
I'm kinda surprised about this study... I thought congesting Manhattan would only help pedestrians, not drivers too 🤔. It makes sense that traffic in suburbs decreased since people were avoiding driving into Manhattan during peak hours 🚗👀. 15% increase in traffic speeds is pretty cool, even if it's just for those who live farther away from the city center 😊. I'd love to see more studies like this one to confirm the results 💡.
 
🤔 I'm intrigued by these findings, it seems that congestion pricing has indeed had a ripple effect on traffic patterns in NYC and surrounding areas. The fact that traffic speeds have increased outside of Manhattan is a great indication that the policy is having a broader impact than initially thought. It's fascinating to see how even drivers who don't pay the toll can benefit from reduced traffic congestion. I'm not surprised that critics are still skeptical, but it'll be interesting to see if the administration takes these results into consideration when evaluating the policy's success 📊
 
OMG u guys 😱, I'm like totally stoked about this news! Congestion pricing was supposed to suck, but it turns out it actually helped out all drivers in NYC 🚗🌆, not just pedestrians. The study says traffic speeds went up by 15% and people save like, hours of driving time every week 🕰️. I know some ppl were skeptical, but looks like it worked! And the best part is, it didn't even make a huge difference in terms of total traffic volume 🚗👍. The gov might wanna rethink scrapping this experiment tho...
 
I'm not surprised by these findings at all 🤔. The way urban planning and economics work is really quite complex. Congestion pricing can have a ripple effect on the entire city, pushing traffic away from the center and reducing congestion elsewhere. It's almost like a natural response to alleviate pressure in one area.

It's great to see that even drivers outside of Manhattan are benefiting from this policy 🚗. The 15% increase in traffic speeds is quite impressive. And let's not forget about those precious hours saved – 83,000 hours per week? That's huge! ⏱️

I do find it interesting that the study controlled for individual trip lengths and still found aggregate benefits outside the congested zone 📊. It just goes to show that when we think about traffic congestion, we need to consider the bigger picture.

I hope this research puts some minds at ease about congestion pricing's effectiveness 😌. Maybe now, people will see it as a viable solution to reduce traffic congestion and create more livable cities for everyone 🌆
 
I'm low-key surprised by this study 🤔. I mean, who wouldn't expect traffic to get worse outside of Manhattan? But I guess it just goes to show that congestion pricing isn't a total fail 💸. I know some people are still worried about the tolls being too high and all that jazz 💁‍♀️, but from what I've seen, most drivers aren't losing their minds over it 🤷‍♂️. And yeah, the suburbs might be benefiting from reduced traffic congestion - who wouldn't love a shorter drive to work? 😎
 
omg i'm like so hyped about this congestion pricing thingy! 🚗 I was super skeptical at first but it seems like it's actually working 🤯! who knew it'd be a win-win for both drivers and pedestrians? 🤝 the speeds are up by 15% and people are saving like, hours of time per week 🕰️. i get that some ppl might say traffic just shifted outta the zone but it seems like those shorter trips outside are getting faster too 💨. gotta love the data backing this one up 📊 let's keep riding this wave! 🚀
 
just read about nyc's congestion pricing and I gotta say i'm kinda surprised they didn't expect drivers in suburbs to benefit 🤯. it makes sense though, less traffic overall is always a good thing! 15% increase in traffic speeds? that's no joke 😂. and saving up to 461k hours per week? insane. i guess we should've known better than to think traffic would just magically disappear 💡. the fact that it reduced overall traffic volumes is huge, but still hoping they don't scrap the experiment 🤞
 
man i'm loving this news 🤩. i remember back in my day when traffic was a nightmare even in suburbs like NJ & PA. but now it seems like that $9 toll is making waves. drivers outside manhattan are enjoying faster commutes too, and that's dope 🙌. 83k hours per week? that's crazy! i'm glad to see people rethinking the whole traffic congestion thing. maybe we can learn a thing or two from nyc & implement it elsewhere?
 
I'm kinda surprised by this study 😊! I mean, most people think congestion pricing is all about slowing down traffic in Manhattan, but it seems like it actually helped things out for everyone else too 🤔. The fact that traffic speeds increased 15% outside the zone and even in the suburbs is pretty wild 🚀. And yeah, those extra 3 minutes saved per journey add up, don't they? 💸 But what's really cool is how this study shows congestion pricing can actually reduce overall traffic volumes - that's a game-changer! 🚗💨
 
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