New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is set to announce the Return of the New York City Congestion Pricing Toll at a Lower Price Thursday afternoon. The Toll is coming back at $9, instead of $15, but tht Price is likely to Increase over time.
The return of the Unpopular Toll program comes after the Governor halted it in a June announcement, that Angered Transit Advocates and some of Hochul’s most Influential Allies. Her “indefinite” pause on Tolls below 60th Street in Manhattan, left the MTA with a $15 billion Revenue Hole.
While President Biden’s (D) Administration has been Supportive of Congestion Pricing, President-Elect Trump has Ridiculed it.
The time left for Hochul to Reintroduce Congestion Pricing had been Disappearing Fast, as the Toll requires Federal Sign-Off from the Federal Highway Administration, something a Trump Administration appeared unlikely to Grant.
It’s unclear how the Lower Toll Price will affect the MTA’s Finances. Beyond Congestion Pricing, the MTA’s Capital Plan also puts the State on the Hook for an additional $33 billion.
The Governor had been signaling the Reintroduction of the Toll since Friday. On Tuesday, She said a Change to Congestion Pricing is expected soon.
Since June, Hochul has maintained Her Pause of the Program, out of concern the Toll would place an undue Economic Burden on Commuters. But the Decision was also driven by Politics, the Governor was concerned the Toll would be a Political Liability for Democrats, hoping to win Battleground Congressional Seats.
New York Democrats fared well in those Districts at the Ballot Box, bucking a National drubbing for their Party.
Opponents of the Toll now say the Reintroduction of Congestion Pricing One week after Election Day, reaffirms that the Governor’s Decision was motivated by Politics: “If that reporting is true, then this very obviously reeks of politics,” Orange County State Sen. James Skoufis (D-42nd District) said.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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