In a dramatic turn of events, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul brought the nation’s inaugural congestion pricing system to an abrupt halt on Wednesday, mere weeks before its scheduled application in the heart of Manhattan. With the deathblow, a project painstakingly nurtured over years in an attempt to gather billions to bolster New York’s struggling subway network and suburban railways, whilst trimming city street congestion and emissions, was left reeling.
Hochul, an avowed Democrat, made the announcement through a pre-recorded video statement, referring to the “difficult decision” as one which was pressured by the potential for far-reaching and detrimental unintended consequences. The Governor highlighted the uncertainty of New York’s fiscal revival, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the monetary strain such a toll could bring to the state residents already wrestling with inflation, as decisive factors behind the indefinite postponement of the program.
The Governor couched the financial toll in human terms by explaining, “A $15 charge might not seem like a lot to someone who has the means but it can break the budget of a hardworking or middle class household. It puts the squeeze on the very people who make this city go.”
The plan, originally signed into law five years ago by the predecessor of Governor Hochul, Andrew Cuomo, had aimed for a kickoff on June 30, and has polarized the community, pinning drivers against frequent users of the city’s public transit system.
Hochul’s sudden capitulation unleashed a tidal wave of surprise throughout New York’s political strata. It simultaneously triggered queries among transit advocates regarding the source of funds for critically required transit overhauls that had originally been earmarked to benefit from toll revenues.
Numerous regional figures responded strongly, including Kate Slevin, the deputy chief of the Regional Plan Association, a nonprofit advocacy group, who dubbed the decision, “a total betrayal of New Yorkers and our climate.”
The mounting backlash from daily commuters and local suburban officials, ostensibly contributed to derailing the plan as it approached its inauguration. Many speculated that Governor Hochul’s political strategy, which focuses on addressing the anxieties of suburban voters for the upcoming congressional seats, also played a part in this reversal.
Among others expressing gratitude for the decision to halt the plan were the representatives of teachers and police unions, truck drivers, and certain officials from New Jersey and Connecticut. Even U.S. Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat who represents a region to the north of the city, admired his contribution to the plan’s collapse, exclaiming in a statement that he was “proud to say we’ve stopped congestion pricing in its tracks.”
The controversial plan involved a minimum fee of $15 for passenger vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street — essentially an area below Central Park — with higher charges for larger vehicles. These burdens would come in addition to the already steep tolls for utilizing bridges and tunnels to enter Manhattan.
In preparation for the launch, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had almost completed installing a technological arsenal of cameras, sensors, license plate readers, and other equipment onto New York City roads. This investment translated to contracts amounting to over $500 million entrusted to private vendors for the design and operation of this tech apparatus.
Governor Hochul’s office and the MTA remained silent on whether any of this investment would be retrieved if the plan is permanently aborted.
Governor Hochul maintained her resolution to finance the state’s transportation projects, though she refrained from detailing where the funds would stem from. It’s worth noting that any additional tax would require the consent of the state legislature, which concludes its session for this week.
Meanwhile, the delay necessitates the approval of MTA’s board, overseen by Hochul. Several board members professed they were caught unawares as the Governor had not briefed them prior to the announcement. They expressed concerns about how crucial ventures such as signal upgrades and rail improvements would be financed.
As stated by one board member, David Jones, the decision provokes urgent questions: “How are we going to replace a third of the capital budget? Is the governor going to provide the billions that are being taken away in some other manner? This could lead to a real financial disaster.”
