As the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump approaches, Governor Kathy Hochul is yet to show signs of reinstating congestion pricing in New York City. Trump, known for his opposition to the program, has made clear his intentions to scrap the plan within his first week back in office. According to
Crain’s New York Business
, the potential cancellation not only puts the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) planned upgrades at risk but also leaves a gaping $15 billion hole in funding for the aging transit system.
The urgency surrounds a contentious program that the Hochul administration shelved over “economic concerns,” which could inflict significant financial pain on the MTA’s capability to enhance and expand its services. The scheme, which had the green light from the Federal Highway Administration in May 2023, during President Joe Biden’s tenure, aimed to charge motorists $15 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, a toll officials projected to generate roughly $1 billion annually, as reported by
Crain’s New York Business
. Without these funds, MTA’s capital projects are left in a precarious position, with over $16 billion worth of improvements stalling.
Growing pressure from activists is now at Governor Hochul’s doorstep, urging a swift reimplementation of congestion pricing or an alternative funding mechanism. “The clock is ticking, and Hochul has to move fast to get it across the finish line and get the money flowing,” Rachel Fauss, senior policy adviser at Reinvent Albany, told
Crain’s New York Business
. Hochul, who had pledged openness to reinstate a potentially lower toll, has remained vague on the topic, promising only announcements concerning a funding plan by the end of the year.
With 75 days left, advocates like Danny Pearlstein of Riders Alliance emphasized the critical race against time: “Governor Hochul must race against time to secure the money New Yorkers need to fix our aging subway and protect riders from climate change,” Pearlstein told
Streetsblog NYC
. And yet, even after the Federal Highway Administration’s initial nod, Hochul’s hesitance to act may necessitate a fresh federal review, further delaying a resolution amidst a transition to an administration already harboring a termination agenda.
Political consequences also loom — some believe Hochul’s decision to pause congestion pricing had electoral ambitions, an angle critics argue had minimal impact on the recent election outcomes. “There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that congestion pricing affected who did well and who did poorly [on Tuesday] night,” Evan Roth Smith, a New York-based political strategist and pollster expressed to
Streetsblog NYC
. Now, with political aims possibly met, the expectation is for Hochul to make good on her congestion pricing promises, and swiftly.
Meanwhile, Mayor Adams has remained diplomatic, deferring to Hochul’s lead on the issue, stating “I’m in support of whatever methodologies the governor chooses to use as we move forward,” during his post-election presser as obtained by
Streetsblog NYC
. With only weeks to act and facing a federal government that might no longer be in favor of local congestion pricing policies, the onus is on Governor Hochul to navigate a politically and logistically fraught landscape to secure the future of New York City’s transit system.
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