Yahoo Autos After killing NYC's congestion pricing plan, Governor Hochul is reviving the polic
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is moving quickly to revive the city’s congestion pricing plan, which would charge drivers entering midtown and lower Manhattan to reduce traffic and emissions.
Originally set to start this summer, the first-in-the-nation tolling program was paused due to political concerns, but Hochul is now pushing for a reduced toll rate of $9 instead of the planned $15. This shift aims to fast-track approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation while President Biden, who supports the policy, is still in office.
Trump’s opposition adds urgency
President-elect Donald Trump has openly opposed congestion pricing, pledging to eliminate the program during his first week in office. Trump’s opposition has spurred congestion pricing advocates to call on Hochul to act swiftly to secure the program.
“Gov. Kathy Hochul must prove she can resist the insanity and take care of the basic infrastructure millions of New Yorkers depend on each day,” Danny Pearlstein, a spokesperson for Riders Alliance, which supports congestion pricing, said in a statement.
MTA
A Financial lifeline for the MTA
Revenue from congestion pricing is vital for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which planned to use funds from tolls to upgrade the system’s aging infrastructure.
The toll was expected to raise approximately $15 billion, making it a key component of the MTA’s long-term budget. The proposed $9 toll would keep the policy within the range that’s already been analyzed and approved by the Biden administration, potentially bypassing the need for a lengthy new environmental review.
Legal and political hurdles remain
Although Hochul has accelerated efforts to secure federal approval, legal challenges to congestion pricing remain active. Lawsuits from groups like the New York City Teachers Union and New Jersey officials argue that tolling will disproportionately impact certain neighborhoods, rerouting trucks and increasing pollution in affected areas. A New York federal judge recently dismissed some claims, but another case in New Jersey federal court could still delay implementation.
(Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
Final thoughts
Despite political and legal uncertainties, MTA CEO Janno Lieber has confirmed that the agency is prepared to launch the tolling system as soon as approvals are in place.
Despite suburban opposition and expected political pushback once Trump takes office in January, Governor Hochul’s revived push to implement a reduced toll reflects her commitment to congestion pricing.
