A new toll for drivers entering the heart of Manhattan brought modest but measurable traffic reductions to New York City’s heavily-gridlocked streets in its first week of operation, according to preliminary data released Monday by the state's transit authority.

Traffic in Manhattan's central business district fell by 7.5% last week and 273,000 fewer cars entered the borough's central business district after the first congestion pricing fee in the U.S. took effect on Jan.

The program had defied many obstacles over the course of decades. It debuted over the weekend on what seemed to be a successful first day.

The scheme aims to ease New York's notorious traffic problems and raise billions for the public transport network. Most drivers are charged $9 once per day to enter the congestion zone at peak hours, and $2.25 at other times.

Traffic in Midtown and lower Manhattan was down nearly 8% after the first full week of congestion tolling, according to preliminary traffic data released Monday by the MTA. “It has been a very good week here in New York,

The MTA released a report Monday showing traffic heading into New York City was down a week after the new congestion pricing plan went into effect.