Approximately 800,000 vehicles enter Manhattan on an average weekday. This figure, reported by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), includes cars, trucks, taxis, and for-hire vehicles crossing through tunnels and over bridges from the other boroughs and New Jersey. This immense volume is a key factor shaping the city's traffic congestion, infrastructure planning, and environmental policies.
The traffic isn't evenly distributed. The majority of vehicles enter via the bridges and tunnels connecting to New Jersey and the other boroughs like Brooklyn and Queens. The Lincoln and Holland Tunnels and the George Washington Bridge are among the busiest entry points. It's important to note that this number represents vehicles, not necessarily individual cars, and it fluctuates based on the day of the week, season, and special events.
| Manhattan Vehicle Entry Points (Average Weekday Volumes) | Estimated Daily Vehicles |
|---|
| George Washington Bridge (from NJ) | Over 280,000 |
| Lincoln Tunnel (from NJ) | Approximately 120,000 |
| Holland Tunnel (from NJ) | Around 90,000 |
| Queens-Midtown Tunnel (from Queens) | Roughly 80,000 |
| Williamsburg Bridge (from Brooklyn) | About 70,000 |
| Brooklyn Bridge (from Brooklyn) | Nearly 60,000 |
| Manhattan Bridge (from Brooklyn) | Approximately 65,000 |
| Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (from Queens/Bronx) | Over 170,000 |
| Total (All Crossings) | ~800,000 |
Pre-pandemic levels were even higher, sometimes exceeding 900,000. While numbers have stabilized post-pandemic, the sheer volume continues to challenge the island's street capacity. Understanding this figure helps explain why public transportation, like the subway and buses, is often a faster and more reliable option for getting into and around the city.
