GoKawiilNYC Congestion Pricing Cuts Ambulance Travel Times, NBER Study Finds
A new NBER working paper examines how New York City's congestion relief zone, launched January 5, 2025, affected emergency medical service response near the toll boundary at 60th Street. Using half a million EMS dispatch records and traffic camera data, researchers found hospital transport times fell by 54-59 seconds and total EMS travel time dropped by roughly 63-70 seconds within a 5-kilometer band around the zone's edge.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The findings suggest congestion pricing, typically justified as a traffic and revenue tool, can produce measurable public safety benefits by speeding ambulances through less-clogged streets. As more US cities weigh similar tolling schemes, this evidence gives policymakers a concrete health-outcome argument beyond reduced gridlock and emissions.
- NYC's congestion relief zone cut hospital transport times by about 8% near the toll boundary.
- Total EMS travel time fell nearly 5-6%, while time to reach the scene improved only slightly.
- The study offers real-world evidence that congestion pricing can improve emergency response speed.
E-ZPass Toll Transponder Mounting Kit — If you drive into tolled zones like Manhattan's congestion relief zone, a proper transponder mount keeps your E-ZPass securely positioned on the windshield for reliable reads. It's a simple accessory that saves you from fumbling tags or missed toll reads on every trip below 60th Street.
See E-ZPass Toll Transponder Mounting Kit on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: nber.org, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “Urban Congestion Pricing and the Response Times of Emergency Medical Services”
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