Most New Yorkers opposed congestion pricing. But history—and psychology—says they would have flip-flopped fast

People often resist congestion pricing because they favor the status quo. But seeing benefits firsthand has led residents in cities around the world to embrace it.

New York City’s plan to charge most vehicles $15 to enter downtown Manhattan would have eased traffic, cut pollution, and raised billions for mass transit. But Governor Kathy Hochul—in an 11th-hour reversal—placed congestion pricing on hold indefinitely, leaving a $15 billion gap in the city’s transit upgrade plans. Hochul, a Democrat, cited a slow economic recovery from the pandemic and the burden the tolls would place on low-income residents, but sources say she also feared upsetting swing-district voters who could decide key elections this fall.