How new congestion pricing plan will work in NYC
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Congestion pricing is officially back in New York City, with Gov. Kathy Hochul promising the tolling scanners will be turned on in January before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.
Trump has promised to kill the program to toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
Hochul said the goal is to get the program up and running by around Jan. 5 of next year — just 15 days before Trump is sworn in again.
“Safeguarding the long-term viability of our subway and commuter rails, the safety of our streets, the health of our environment and the strength of our economy — these are all hard to do, but they’re necessary,” Hochul concluded while announcing her decision to revive the program she indefinitely paused over the summer.
Hochul said the new congestion pricing plan will have a 40% discount: $9 instead of $15 — and pledged that it would not be raised for at least three years.
She said over time it will still raise billions of dollars for transit projects, including more elevators, the Second Avenue Subway expansion and more frequent bus service in the outer boroughs. However, achieving the stated goal of bonding $15 billion to fund those projects may take more time.
The new rate is estimated to reduce traffic below 60th Street by around 13%, which is less than the projected 15-17% under the higher toll.
Hochul’s team said the price change will require approval from the Federal Highway Safety Administration — and that team under President Joe Biden will look more favorably on the change than the team Trump will put in place.
But the governor disputes the notion that she played politics by pausing the plan mid-summer ahead of the election.
“I’ll take criticism any day of the week for standing up for regular New Yorkers and reducing cost, because that’s exactly what we did,” she said.
“You can’t whack hard-working families with a new tax,” said U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. “It’s already a fortune to commute to New York. It’s too much.”
Gottheimer was among a chorus of voices, mainly representing the New York City suburbs, slamming the revival of congestion pricing. They point to not just the cost but pollution that will be pushed on their communities.
Gottheimer is confident any number of lawsuits seeking to stop congestion pricing may be successful — but if not — he confirmed Washington lawmakers would be taking a hard look at the money that’s getting sent to New York.
“If they’re going to stick their hands in our pockets, we’re not going to send them tax dollars. You can’t double dip here,” he said.
Hochul argues congestion pricing is a net good for the entire tri-state area and that 85% of people who come to Manhattan below 60th Street do so on mass transportation.
Trump issued a statement on Thursday saying the toll would hurt New York.