5 months after suspending the vehicle-tolling initiative geared toward funding transit upgrades, Gov. Kathy Hochul put congestion pricing again on observe Thursday — and squarely within the sights of President-elect Donald Trump.
The tolls would kick in simply over two weeks earlier than the White Home return of Trump, who has vowed to “TERMINATE Congestion Pricing in my FIRST WEEK back in office.”
The governor’s newest reversal on the first-in-the-nation plan got here after Hochul in June put an indefinite pause on congestion pricing, which might have initially charged motorists $15.
On the time the transfer was labeled politically motivated, however Hochul on Thursday additionally denied that her choice to revive the plan now was pushed by the outcomes of the presidential election.
“A pause is a pause is a pause,” Hochul mentioned in response to a query from THE CITY in regards to the five-month delay. “People thought it was a permanent death — I said all along it was not permanent death.”
Hochul had vowed since August to give you an end-of-year various to the $15 tolling plan, which was designed to chop congestion and fund billions of {dollars} in upgrades to the MTA’s sprawling transportation community.
Congestion pricing toll scanners above Broadway, simply north of sixtieth Road and Columbus Circle. Nov. 14, 2024. Credit score: Jose Martinez / THE CITY
She introduced one Thursday, 5 months after the June pause left a $16.5 billion gap within the MTA’s five-year capital plan, led to lawsuits from transit and environmental advocates and threats from Trump, who on Thursday instructed the New York Put up that congestion pricing is “probably the most regressive tax recognized to womankind!
“It will be virtually impossible for New York City to come back as long as the congestion tax is in effect,” Trump mentioned.
The day after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, THE CITY reported that transit and environmental advocates who again congestion pricing warned that it was “now or never” for the vehicle-tolling initiative to be applied in brief order earlier than the Republican administration returns.
“Once it’s turned on, it becomes very difficult to turn off,” Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, instructed THE CITY on Thursday.
Hochul and her state finances director Blake Washington insisted the tolling scheme would nonetheless herald $15 billion regardless of the 40% discount in charges set to be slapped on motorists.
When repeatedly pressed as to how that was attainable, Director of State Operations Kathryn Garcia summed it up as a situation of the 2019 state regulation that authorized congestion pricing.
“We are required to give the MTA basically a $15 billion credit card…” Garcia mentioned. “It just may mean that it takes longer to pay it all back.”
The governor additionally famous that whereas the $15 tolling plan predicted a 15-17% drop in site visitors, the $9 plan solely expects a 13% discount in autos by way of the zone — that means extra automobiles can be paying.
Lacking Cash
The pause had pressured the MTA to recalibrate its greater than $50 billion 2020-2024 Capital Program. It placed on maintain plans that embody putting in elevators at 23 subway and Staten Island Railway stations, shopping for 250-plus electrical buses and bus depot charging tools and initiatives to detect trespassing on practice tracks.
It additionally disrupted plans to place cash towards so-called environmental justice communities disproportionately affected by automobile emissions.
“Over $100 million dollars will be spent funding reducing polluting trucks that travel our city streets, especially in The Bronx,” mentioned Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. “And it also buys that borough additional green space and an asthma center.”
Hochul mentioned these initiatives are actually a go — whereas conceding they might take just a little longer to finish.
“It took some time to navigate the right financial structuring so we could get to the money so no project is jeopardized,” Hochul mentioned. “Then we can start, turn on the switch right away to start these critical projects that I believe in.”
Janno Lieber, MTA chairperson and CEO, mentioned Hochul’s help of congestion pricing is crucial for initiatives that had briefly been placed on ice, citing the extension of the Second Avenue Subway from 96th Road to Harlem.
“We will be putting out the [request for proposals] for the tunnel boring on the Second Avenue Subway promptly, as a result of the actions taken by the governor today,” he mentioned.
Hochul additionally pledged her “strong support” for the transit company’s subsequent five-year capital plan. At $68.4 billion, it’s the most important within the historical past of the MTA, but additionally one which faces a projected $33 billion funding hole of its personal.
Funds watchdogs mentioned the governor wants to offer the general public with extra particulars and assurances that the funding shortfalls in each capital plans will probably be stuffed.
“The capital plan’s financing should be sustainable — not setting the stage for new tax increases every five years — and fairly apportion the cost across the region and among riders, drivers and taxpayers,” the non-profit Residents Funds Fee mentioned in an announcement.
Hochul’s earlier shift away from congestion pricing additionally put into query a pledge to place cash towards environmental justice efforts in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by poor air high quality because of site visitors. These now have the greenlight.
MTA head Janno Lieber celebrates the resumption of congestion pricing, Nov. 14, 2024. Credit score: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY
“Lower-income communities will not only benefit from improved public transit service, but also cleaner air,” mentioned Hochul, including that she has directed the MTA to offer extra frequent bus service alongside at the very least 23 bus routes outdoors of Manhattan.
For all of the hopeful phrases that accompanied Thursday’s announcement, officers acknowledged the potential for a congestion pricing conflict with Trump whereas expressing hope that the President-elect could pull a U-turn of his personal on the vehicle-tolling plan.
“I am looking for support from the federal government to support our shared goals of making this a world-class system,” Hochul mentioned. “So, I will have those conversations and ask all of my federal partners, from the president to congress on down.”
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