NYC EMS Times Cut 1 Minute
Congestion pricing slashes hospital transport times by 54-59 seconds, a 8% drop, in a city where every minute counts
New York City's congestion pricing program, implemented on January 5, 2025, has had a significant impact on emergency medical services (EMS) in the city. The program has reduced total EMS travel times by just over a minute on average, with hospital transport time falling by 54-59 seconds and total EMS travel time declining by 63-70 seconds.
The reduction in travel times is a result of decreased traffic congestion in the city, particularly near the boundary of the congestion pricing zone. Passenger vehicle density has fallen by approximately 21 percent near the boundary, while truck density has decreased by 18 percent. This reduction in vehicle traffic has led to increased pedestrian and bicycle density, with a 14 percent rise in pedestrian density and a 20 percent increase in bicycle density.
The improvements in EMS travel times are significant, with hospital transport time falling by roughly 8 percent relative to the pre-policy average of about 12 minutes. Total EMS travel time has declined by almost 5-6 percent, while travel time to the incident scene itself has fallen by a smaller amount, about 7-9 seconds or 2 percent.
## What changed The congestion pricing program has led to changes in traffic patterns near the congestion zone boundary, with decreased vehicle and truck density and increased pedestrian and bicycle density. This shift in traffic patterns has had a positive impact on EMS travel times, allowing ambulances to reach their destinations more quickly.
## Why it matters The reduction in EMS travel times is crucial, as every minute counts in emergency medical situations. The implementation of congestion pricing programs in cities around the world, including London, Stockholm, and Milan, has shown that these programs can have a significant impact on reducing traffic congestion and improving emergency response times. The success of New York City's program provides a model for other cities to follow, and highlights the importance of considering the impact of congestion pricing on emergency services.
The study's findings are based on an analysis of dispatch records from the Fire Department of New York City for roughly half a million EMS incidents in 2024-2025, combined with traffic camera data from New York University's C2SMART research center. The data provides a comprehensive picture of the impact of congestion pricing on EMS travel times and traffic patterns in the city.
