The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Monday approved New York Governor Kathy Hochul's congestion pricing program for Midtown and Lower Manhattan by a 12-1 vote.
Congestion pricing will begin in January, with mandatory video tolls being imposed on newly built gantries surrounding the city centre. Traffic traveling under 60th Street and Central Park and traffic entering from New Jersey, Brooklyn, or Queens is subject to tolls, except via the RFK Triboro Bridge and the George Washington Bridge.
Mr. Hochul previously said he wanted to set the fee slightly lower than the original $15 (about $9 due to inflation), and MTA Chairman Jano Lieber last week said he wanted to lower the fee. He indicated that he is open to considering whether it is possible to achieve the same revenue targets.
On Monday, the MTA agreed to a phased-in congestion pricing plan that would eventually result in Manhattan drivers being charged higher tolls by 2031.
Hochul expresses bipartisan outrage over large-scale paid reboot as Democrats fear Trump's obstruction
New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at an event at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, New York, in April. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
Lieber called the reinstatement of congestion pricing “huge for the MTA,” noting that businesses as well as people who take public transit or drive into the city will benefit from the plan because of reduced traffic. He insisted that he would receive it.
“This is a hopeful moment, not just for drivers, but for transit users and everyone, because if you have to drive to New York, if you choose to drive to New York; “Life can and should be better if you're not spending money,” he said, “and so is your time in traffic.” “If you can save 10, 20, or even 30 minutes, time is money.”
Lieber said he expects congestion pricing to have a positive effect, but critics argue that the pricing is a tax on hard-working New Yorkers and commuters who drive into Manhattan.
Homan mocks Hochul's sudden outburst against violent immigrants
Traffic enters Lower Manhattan after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Still, Lieber pushed back against opponents, arguing that about 143,000 motorists enter congestion toll zones every day, compared to 6.5 million people who use public transit.
Regarding funding, Lieber told reporters after the vote that the approved $9 toll could still allow the MTA to generate $15 billion for capital projects, but it may take a little longer than expected from the $15 toll. He said no.
However, with Hochul's full support, the MTA is confident the project will be fully funded, he explained. Lieber added that there will be no significant delays in the completion of major capital projects related to the transportation system.
New York's Democratic governor suspends congestion pricing plan indefinitely by engaging party on climate change issue
A recently installed paid traffic camera hangs above West End Avenue near 61st Street in Manhattan, New York. (AP Photo/Ted Shafley, File)
Hochul, a Democrat, canceled his long-held congestion pricing plan after initial backlash from state Democrats. But now some New York Democrats are warning that President Trump could kill their source of income.
Last week, a group of New York Republicans wrote a letter He called on President Trump to use federal authority to reverse what he called an unfairly accelerated process by the Biden administration.
“Thanks to the MTA, we have just made progress in congestion pricing.” [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] and the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) manipulation of FHWA's Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP), a pilot program first authorized by Congress more than 30 years ago in 1991.” There is.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul calls Trump supporters 'clowns' in moment of her own 'deplorable incident'
Pedestrians cross Delancey Street as congested traffic from Brooklyn crosses the Williamsburg Bridge into Manhattan, New York City. (Mary Altafer/AP Photo)
“The Biden administration even conspired to allow an abbreviated environmental review in order for the program to bypass the normal process,” the letter continued.
Lawmakers including Rockland County's Michael Lawler, Staten Island's Nicole Malliotakis, Long Island's Andrew Garbarino, Nick Larota and Anthony D'Esposito called on President Trump to take action.
“Congestion pricing, the latest in a long line of overbearing taxes, is a challenge to New York State families and workers, the timing of the initiative, areas lacking adequate transportation options, the fiscal responsibility of relocation, and the burden on New York State families and workers.” “This will have a negative impact on residents, including those in some low-income areas of New York City,” they wrote.
Click to get the FOX News app
Lawmakers argue that Hochul took this action because the measure failed to generate goodwill for the Democratic Party members elected in the previous election, and that Hochul took the action because it failed to generate goodwill for Democratic Party members elected in the last election. He added that the MTA is running large deficits due to fare evasion, internal waste and fraud.
Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
