If the governor didn’t put congestion pricing on pause, drivers in Midtown would pay an average of $15 to travel below 60th Street in Manhattan.
Many in the legislature who support the tolling plan aren’t giving up on it.
What You Need To Know
- State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said he thinks the toll should be implemented with changes to the rate and possibly hours and the legislature can figure out supplemental funding for the MTA come January
- The tolls could be no lower than $9, which was what was studied in the Environmental Assessment, without triggering the need for another one
- There is worry that if it is not implemented before January, a new president could permanently pull the plug on the program
“Mend it, don’t end it,” state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said.
He said he and his colleagues have spoken to Gov. Kathy Hochul about possibly changing the tolling scheme.
“Lower the toll, in some instances, change the hours, look at some of the other aspects of the program that could be modified to reduce the sticker shock,” Hoylman-Sigal said.
He said, however, it is uncertain whether the law, which requires the toll raise $1 billion a year, must be changed beforehand. But what’s clear is it must fall within the scenarios studied in the environmental assessment, meaning it could go no lower than $9, and it would have to be implemented before January.
“If there’s a new presidential administration, that president could potentially end congestion pricing,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “I have urged the governor to proceed as soon as possible.”
That’s because the federal government has yet to issue the agreement needed to begin the program as long as the governor has the program on pause.
On Sunday, wearing an MTA pride shirt, Hochul reiterated her support for the authority and the tolling plan.
“I support the MTA,” the governor told NY1. “This is a temporary pause in congestion pricing just to give everyday New Yorkers a break.”
But transit advocates like Transportation Alternatives are not giving up on the current tolling scheme and they're putting their own pressure on the governor to implement it.
“We are here today to give Governor Kathy Hochul exactly what she wants: more cars,” Elizabeth Adams of Transportation Alternatives said.
The group attempted to deliver 2,000 toy cars to the governor’s Midtown office on Monday. But security would not let them up, saying no one was there despite her schedule placing her in the city.
Transportation Alternatives said they are not interested in any compromises.
“The congestion pricing that was approved and voted on went through years of debate, discussion, assessment,” Adams said. “We want to see that program move forward now.”
Meanwhile, the governor’s office would not comment on any discussions with legislators. Instead, the office referred to a statement from last week, which she said she would work with the legislature to fund the MTA.