With the first week of New York’s Congestion Pricing toll in the books, commuters are reaping a reward, spending less time in traffic in exchange for their $9 toll to enter lower Manhattan, said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

MTA Chairperson Janno Lieber took to the airwaves to defend congestion pricing from what he called “grievance politics” Tuesday, ahead of the second rush hour under the controversial

During the first work week with congestion pricing, around 219,000 fewer cars drove through the congestion zone, which runs from 60th Street to the southern tip of Manhattan, according to data. And when compared to the same period last year, the MTA reported a 7.5% reduction in overall traffic.

One week into congestion pricing the MTA has announced the purchase of more than 200 new buses and a new bus depot coming to New York City. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced that the agency has purchased more than 200 zero-emission buses that will take to the streets of

Traffic entering Manhattan below 60th Street dropped by 7.5% in the first week after the start of a controversial $9 toll on driving in that area.

The introduction of a $9 congestion fee has resulted in faster speeds on some of the city’s famously snarled streets and fewer commuters on the bridges and tunnels. “The traffic is absolutely less, even during rush hour,