Congestion pricing is back at full speed.
Gov. Cathy Hochul officially announced Thursday that she is lifting a “pause” on New York City's controversial toll system, paving the way for it to go into effect by the new year.
Starting in January, cars entering Manhattan's 60th Street and below will be charged a base daytime toll of $9, lower than the originally planned $15 toll, he said at a news conference. He said that.
“I’m proud to announce that we’ve found a way to fund the MTA, ease congestion, and put millions of dollars in commuters’ pockets.”
Hochul said the proposed overhaul includes further discounts for low-income New Yorkers.
He said car owners with an annual income of less than $50,000 will receive a 50% discount on tolls after the 10th of the month, and an additional reduction in tolls after 9 p.m., but that amount will not be applied immediately. was not clear.
Hochul said the $9 toll would be enough to secure $15 billion in MTA funding originally planned for projects such as modern traffic lights, a Second Avenue subway and new elevators at the station. said.
The governor also said he has directed the MTA to make “major service enhancements” to at least 23 bus routes in the suburban borough.
The nation's first suspension of the program was imposed by Hochul in June, days before motorists were scheduled to start paying the $15 toll.
But Hochul argued that unilaterally putting congestion pricing on hold indefinitely would make it too expensive for New Yorkers and commuters.
She also faced political pressure from fellow Democrats to delay the program until after the 2024 election, fearing the toll would hurt her chances of winning a battleground New York congressional seat. It is reported that he also succumbed.
The reinstatement of Hochul's congestion charge will come with a reduction in the fee, but officials said it will not require MTA officials to conduct another lengthy environmental study.
A spokesperson for the Federal Highway Administration confirmed that New York City officials led the federal bureaucratic process to reset tolls.
“The New York project sponsor has notified FHWA of its updated plans to proceed with the project with a $9 deposit, and FHWA is working expeditiously to finalize the steps necessary to close the contract,” a spokesperson said in a statement. said.
Hochul's New York counterpart, Gov. Phil Murphy, was furious at President Biden's efforts to impose congestion pricing during the waning days of his administration.
In a blistering statement, Murphy claimed that New Jersey officials were not consulted about the plan either before or after the suspension.
“We all need to heed the message that voters across the country sent last Tuesday, that the vast majority of Americans are experiencing severe economic strain and are still facing the effects of inflation. That's what I feel.” “There has never been a better time to impose a new $9 toll on individuals traveling to downtown Manhattan for work, school, or leisure.”
The decision to suspend congestion pricing infuriated advocates, who argued it would ease traffic congestion in Manhattan, reduce air pollution and help pay for $15 billion worth of critical MTA projects.
Opponents celebrated the blow to tolls, arguing that it effectively imposes a tax on motorists and takes money out of the pockets of working-class commuters in and out of the city.
