NYC Congestion Pricing Reduced EMS Travel Times by Over a Minute

Congestion Pricing Impact on EMS

New York City's congestion pricing program, the first comprehensive program of its kind in the US, began on January 5, 2025. Researchers examined its effects on emergency medical services (EMS) response times. The study focused on the congestion relief zone (CRZ) boundary at 60th Street in Manhattan, comparing areas just inside and outside the tolled zone before and after the policy's implementation.

Reduced Travel Times for Emergency Services

The analysis of approximately half a million EMS incidents from 2024–2025 revealed a reduction in total EMS travel times by 63–70 seconds, or 5–6 percent. Specifically, hospital transport time, the period from leaving the incident scene to arriving at a hospital, decreased by 54–59 seconds, an 8 percent improvement. Travel time to the incident scene saw a smaller reduction of 7–9 seconds, or 2 percent.

Traffic Pattern Changes

These improvements in EMS response times are linked to significant changes in traffic patterns near the congestion pricing zone boundary. Passenger vehicle density decreased by approximately 21 percent, and truck density fell by 18 percent. Concurrently, pedestrian density rose by about 14 percent and bicycle density by 20 percent, indicating a shift in transportation modes within the affected area.

Methodology and Significance

Researchers utilized dispatch records from the Fire Department of New York City and traffic camera data from New York University’s C2SMART research center. The study highlights a direct benefit of congestion pricing beyond its primary goal of reducing gridlock, demonstrating a positive impact on critical public services. Prior research indicates that faster EMS response times correlate with lower 90-day mortality rates for patients.