{ "schemaVersion": "1.0.0", "constitutionVersion": "1.0.0", "createdAt": "2026-08-12T00:00:00Z", "description": "Append-only Evidence Passport records. Old revisions are immutable; corrections create a new revision and preserve the previous permalink.", "entity": { "type": "project", "id": "nyc-congestion-pricing", "title": "Central Business District Tolling (Congestion Pricing)", "canonicalUrl": "https://1001smartcities.org/projects/nyc-congestion-pricing/" }, "currentRevisionId": "2026-10-11-baseline", "revisions": [ { "id": "2026-10-11-baseline", "createdAt": "2026-10-11T21:31:50Z", "effectiveAt": "2026-10-11", "changeType": "baseline", "summary": "Created the first structured Evidence Passport with 18 claims and 8 source dossiers.", "preparedBy": { "type": "automation", "label": "AI-assisted evidence preparation", "humanApproved": false }, "review": { "status": "unreviewed", "by": null, "date": null, "note": "Awaiting operator and domain-expert review; publication of this revision implies neither." }, "changes": [ { "operation": "add", "path": "/evidencePassport", "summary": "Added claim-level evidence mapping and source dossiers." }, { "operation": "add", "path": "/revisionHistory", "summary": "Established a permanent, hash-addressed baseline revision." } ], "snapshotHash": "sha256:410e96487fb35aa58812008ad2b1094d403e4d5033d452aadca6843002d77b18", "snapshot": { "asOf": "2026-10-11", "projectFingerprint": "sha256:98b8cb71d98b118e70c31acbb9bbb8b9f495f917cd989e8de15b62bf833f3617", "assurance": { "status": "unreviewed", "scope": "evidence-passport-revision", "statement": "AI-assisted structural preparation. This revision has not been reviewed by a human or subject-matter expert.", "machineChecks": [ "schema", "publication-diff-contract", "material-project-fingerprint", "claim-text-drift", "source-reference-resolution", "complete-source-dossier", "snapshot-hash" ] }, "projectState": { "status": "live", "outcome": "succeeded", "evidenceGrade": "independent", "timeline": { "started": 2025, "ended": null } }, "governance": { "operator": "MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)", "actorTypes": [ "utility" ], "fundingModel": "public", "fundingDescription": "Tolls pledged to raise ~$500M/year, backing roughly $15bn of MTA capital investment.", "cost": "$9 peak E-ZPass toll for cars (75% less overnight, $4.50 for motorcycles), rising to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031.", "ownership": null, "decisionRights": null, "exitConditions": null }, "claims": [ { "id": "clm-269836fd83788b6b", "field": "snippet", "text": "On 5 January 2025 New York became the first US city to toll a cordon zone", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5", "src-02c420ef3fc3e54d" ], "supportNote": "The governor's release dates the start of tolling to midnight on 5 January 2025 and calls it New York City's first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program; the ABC7 report calls it first-of-its-kind.", "caveat": "'First' is how the state and the MTA describe the program; no earlier US cordon toll is known to the atlas.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-b7e57cd2e6a6bf59", "field": "snippet", "text": "a $9 peak base fee for cars", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-8e16ad6ce6a29f72" ], "supportNote": "The MTA's toll page sets the peak toll for passenger and small commercial vehicles paying with E-ZPass at $9, with a 75% lower overnight rate.", "caveat": "$9 is the E-ZPass rate; the schedule raises it to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-13f9f9b522a1c6f6", "field": "snippet", "text": "read by licence-plate cameras", "statementKind": "descriptive", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-f03e0ae940f57cf4" ], "supportNote": "The MTA explains that detection points identify the licence plate of every vehicle entering the zone, then charge the linked E-ZPass or mail a bill to the owner.", "caveat": "The MTA calls them detection points rather than cameras.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-4e67e9ab3210c22f", "field": "snippet", "text": "to enter Manhattan below 60th Street", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-91df3b3e84c0e785" ], "supportNote": "The MTA's page defines the zone as the local streets and avenues of Manhattan at or below 60 Street.", "caveat": "60 Street itself is inside the zone; some through roads such as the FDR Drive are excluded.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-d4a0659db7020f78", "field": "snippet", "text": "In its first year state and MTA figures showed 11% fewer vehicles (over 73,000 fewer a day) entering the zone", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5" ], "supportNote": "The year-one release reports that on any given day over 73,000 fewer vehicles enter the zone, an 11% reduction on average, citing MTA data.", "caveat": "These are the program's own figures. An August 2025 reading put the daily drop at about 87,000; the year-one average is lower.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-4847b8a768bc0540", "field": "snippet", "text": "faster river crossings", "statementKind": "descriptive", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5", "src-6697e90e0e597156" ], "supportNote": "The governor's release lists speed gains at every bridge and tunnel into the zone, averaging 23% in the morning rush; the Regional Plan Association found bus trip times through the Lincoln and Holland tunnels sharply down.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-7e3ddead94fe37ce", "field": "snippet", "text": "over $500M in net revenue earmarked for transit", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5" ], "supportNote": "The release says the program generated over $550 million in net revenue in its first year, allowing the MTA to proceed with $15 billion of transit projects.", "caveat": "The $550 million was a year-end projection; $518 million had been collected by November 2025.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-b2f66fc050ca847b", "field": "impact", "text": "27 million fewer vehicles entered the zone, an 11% drop", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5" ], "supportNote": "The year-one release states that 27 million fewer vehicles entered the Congestion Relief Zone in the first year, an 11% reduction in traffic.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-20516af7af6a0951", "field": "impact", "text": "morning rush-hour speeds on the crossings into and out of the zone rose 23% on average", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5" ], "supportNote": "The release reports that crossings entering and exiting the zone saw morning rush-hour speeds up an average of 23%, with the Holland Tunnel 51% faster.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-2354a1ab67be07b6", "field": "impact", "text": "$518M in net toll revenue had been collected by November 2025", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5" ], "supportNote": "The release states that as of November 2025, $518 million in net tolling revenue had been collected and allocated to transit improvements and mitigation.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-628c92eb3c05efc4", "field": "impact", "text": "letting the MTA proceed with $15bn of transit projects", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5" ], "supportNote": "The release says the revenue allows the MTA to proceed with $15 billion in funding for its 2020–2024 capital plan, including Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 and signal upgrades.", "caveat": "The $15bn is borrowing backed by the toll revenue, not toll revenue itself.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-acc40b0d039e5ffa", "field": "impact", "text": "An independent NBER working paper using Google Maps data found speeds inside the cordon up 11%", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-511dec839f3ec920" ], "supportNote": "The paper by Cook, Kreidieh, Vasserman, Allcott and co-authors uses Google Maps data and a generalized synthetic-control design and finds the toll raised cordon-area speeds by 11%.", "caveat": "A working paper, not peer-reviewed; three of the eight authors are at Google Research, whose Google Maps data it uses.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-1dd52eb6849969af", "field": "impact", "text": "and faster unpriced trips outside it", "statementKind": "descriptive", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-511dec839f3ec920" ], "supportNote": "The paper finds that speeds also rose outside the cordon, especially on roads used by drivers heading into it, making many unpriced trips faster.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-3b674f00c81a58d1", "field": "impact", "text": "but little effect on air quality, consumer spending or foot traffic", "statementKind": "descriptive", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-511dec839f3ec920" ], "supportNote": "The paper's abstract reports little effect of the toll on air quality, consumer spending or foot traffic.", "caveat": "The governor's release cites a Cornell study finding PM2.5 down 22% in the zone; the two measure different things over different windows and do not agree.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-febfeea6678d4fa2", "field": "lesson", "text": "The first US cordon-pricing scheme survived repeated federal attempts to revoke it", "statementKind": "descriptive", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-37445a57602110c5", "src-02c420ef3fc3e54d" ], "supportNote": "The governor's release says New York and the MTA fought off repeated legal challenges and blocked the US Department of Transportation's attempts to terminate the program; ABC7 reports the judge found the revocation attempt unlawful.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-90b1b883ff90b6f5", "field": "lesson", "text": "a federal court upheld the program in March 2026", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-02c420ef3fc3e54d" ], "supportNote": "ABC7 reports that on 3 March 2026 Judge Lewis Liman ruled the federal government had no authority to kill the program, reaffirming his May 2025 order.", "caveat": "The ruling found the revocation unlawful; it did not bar further federal challenges, and it was appealed.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-4db621523c37eb67", "field": "lesson", "text": "a state law and a federal pilot-program agreement, which the judge called the \"product of a democratic process\" that could not be arbitrarily revoked", "statementKind": "descriptive", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-02c420ef3fc3e54d" ], "supportNote": "ABC7 quotes the ruling: the program was the product of a democratic process and cannot be arbitrarily revoked, resting on the federal Value Pricing Pilot Program, the state Traffic Mobility Act and a signed federal agreement.", "caveat": null, "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } }, { "id": "clm-d9f92918ce85d456", "field": "lesson", "text": "The US Department of Transportation appealed to the Second Circuit on 1 May 2026.", "statementKind": "quantitative", "textMode": "verbatim-from-project-record", "mappingStatus": "mapped", "sourceRefs": [ "src-39068525b478fe27" ], "supportNote": "amNewYork reports that the US Department of Transportation, through the Justice Department, filed a notice of appeal to the Second Circuit against the March 2026 judgment.", "caveat": "The atlas has no ruling on the appeal as of October 2026.", "interpretation": { "added": false, "interpolation": false, "note": "The passport copies the published claim and its recorded source mapping without adding a conclusion." } } ], "sources": [ { "id": "src-37445a57602110c5", "title": "Governor of New York (authority)", "url": "https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/less-traffic-better-transit-its-first-anniversary-governor-hochul-celebrates-transformational", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "governor.ny.gov", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-269836fd83788b6b", "clm-d4a0659db7020f78", "clm-4847b8a768bc0540", "clm-7e3ddead94fe37ce", "clm-b2f66fc050ca847b", "clm-20516af7af6a0951", "clm-2354a1ab67be07b6", "clm-628c92eb3c05efc4", "clm-febfeea6678d4fa2" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": "2026-01-05", "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "publication-and-record-dates-recorded" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "First-anniversary release with the year-one MTA and state figures: 27 million fewer vehicles, an 11% traffic drop, faster crossings, $518M net revenue by November 2025 and the $15bn capital programme it unlocks.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-91df3b3e84c0e785", "title": "MTA — Congestion Relief Zone (operator)", "url": "https://www.mta.info/tolls/congestion-relief-zone", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "mta.info", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-4e67e9ab3210c22f" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": null, "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "record-date-only" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Operator page for the toll: the zone covers local streets and avenues at or below 60 Street; links to rates, exemptions and rules.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-8e16ad6ce6a29f72", "title": "MTA — About the Congestion Relief Zone toll (operator)", "url": "https://www.mta.info/fares-tolls/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/about", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "mta.info", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-b7e57cd2e6a6bf59" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": null, "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "record-date-only" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Toll schedule: $9 peak E-ZPass rate for cars, 75% less overnight, crossing credits, and the phase-in to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-f03e0ae940f57cf4", "title": "MTA — Congestion Relief Zone FAQ (operator)", "url": "https://www.mta.info/fares-tolls/tolls/congestion-relief-zone/faq", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "mta.info", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-13f9f9b522a1c6f6" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": null, "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "record-date-only" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Explains how the toll is collected: detection points identify the licence plate of every vehicle entering the zone and charge E-ZPass or send a Tolls by Mail bill.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-02c420ef3fc3e54d", "title": "ABC7 New York (press)", "url": "https://abc7ny.com/post/manhattans-congestion-pricing-can-continue-judge-rules-ending-lengthy-legal-battle/18672390/", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "abc7ny.com", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-269836fd83788b6b", "clm-febfeea6678d4fa2", "clm-90b1b883ff90b6f5", "clm-4db621523c37eb67" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": "2026-03-03", "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "publication-and-record-dates-recorded" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Coverage of Judge Lewis Liman's 3 March 2026 ruling that the federal attempt to revoke the program was unlawful.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-6697e90e0e597156", "title": "Regional Plan Association (research)", "url": "https://rpa.org/news/lab/congestion-pricing-getting-around-faster-all-around", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "rpa.org", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-4847b8a768bc0540" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": "2025-06-18", "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "publication-and-record-dates-recorded" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Regional Plan Association analysis of Waze delay data for January–April 2025: traffic delays in Manhattan about 25% lower than expected without the toll, with smaller reductions in surrounding counties. RPA campaigned for congestion pricing.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-511dec839f3ec920", "title": "Cook et al., NBER Working Paper 33584 (not peer-reviewed)", "url": "https://www.nber.org/papers/w33584", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "nber.org", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-acc40b0d039e5ffa", "clm-1dd52eb6849969af", "clm-3b674f00c81a58d1" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": null, "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "record-date-only" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Working paper by Cook, Kreidieh, Vasserman, Allcott and others using Google Maps data and a synthetic-control design: cordon-area speeds up 11%, faster trips outside the cordon, little effect on air quality, spending or foot traffic. Revised in August 2026 under the title 'The Network-Wide Effects of Congestion Pricing'.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } }, { "id": "src-39068525b478fe27", "title": "amNewYork (press) — federal appeal filed, 1 May 2026", "url": "https://www.amny.com/news/congestion-pricing-trump-appeals-federal-ruling/", "publisher": { "name": null, "domain": "amny.com", "classification": "not-classified" }, "sourceType": "web-page", "language": "und", "role": "claim-evidence", "claimRefs": [ "clm-d9f92918ce85d456" ], "temporal": { "publishedAt": "2026-05-01", "updatedAt": null, "sourceCheckedAt": null, "recordLastVerifiedAt": "2026-10-11", "dossierCreatedAt": "2026-10-11", "retrievedAt": null, "status": "publication-and-record-dates-recorded" }, "locator": { "type": "descriptive-source-note", "value": "Reports that the US Department of Transportation filed a notice of appeal to the Second Circuit against the March 2026 judgment.", "exact": false }, "preservation": { "archiveUrl": null, "archivedAt": null, "contentHash": null, "status": "not-captured" } } ], "coverage": { "claimsTotal": 18, "claimsMapped": 18, "sourcesTotal": 8, "sourcesUsedByClaims": 8, "sourcesWithPublicationDate": 4, "sourcesWithArchive": 0, "sourcesWithExactLocator": 0, "sourcesWithContentHash": 0 }, "limits": [ "Publisher names and source languages have not yet been classified; domains are recorded without guessing.", "Existing source notes are descriptive locators, not page- or paragraph-exact citations.", "A missing archive, publication date or content hash is shown as null rather than inferred.", "The project-level evidence grade ranks the strongest source in the entry; it is not a truth score for every claim." ] } } ] }