NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to a break on congestion pricing forced the MTA board to think Wednesday which projects may need to be scrapped or suspended.
Under congestion pricing most drivers would have to pay $15 to enter the congestion zone south of 60th Street.
More than 140 people registered to speak during an MTA public comment period Wednesday morning, more than the meeting could accommodate. The MTA had to pause the public speaking period and tell those who had yet to speak that they would be recorded on a separate feed while the rest of the meeting continued.
Passionate congestion pricing advocates expressed their frustration outside the meeting. They are angry at Hochul.
“This is really bad stuff,” said Pete Sikora of New York Communities for Change.
At MTA headquarters, speakers urged the board to take a stand.
“If the governor goes through with this, she needs to be prepared for lawsuits on June 30th. This administration has a fiduciary duty to implement this program and we encourage you to speak out against the Governor’s pause,” said Elizabeth Adams.
What about the revenues congestion pricing should generate?
Congestion pricing was expected to bring in $1 billion a year in new revenue, which has now been put on hold. So also major capital projectssuch as the subway expansion on 2nd Avenue and new elevators.
“Once we have elevators in every station, more people will use the subway to get where they want to go,” said congestion pricing advocate Michael Ring.
“By delaying these legally mandated accessibility improvements, the MTA and the state are breaking a promise to New Yorkers with disabilities. Shame on the elected officials who applaud this indefinite pause while offering no real alternative – they cost our communities these lifts,” said St. Senator Andrew Gounardes.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said he is committed to working with Hochul and the Legislature finding new sources of income for major projects which are now on hold.
Most of the speakers at Wednesday’s event supported congestion pricing, but a recent Siena College poll found that a large number of voters in New York state do not. Only 25% said Hochul made the wrong move by pausing it. In April, a whopping 63% of New Yorkers said they were outright opposed to the toll.
“It would have increased pollution and traffic on Staten Island and Brooklyn to the benefit of a few in Manhattan,” said Assemblymember Michael Tannousis.
Hochul issues a statement
“Last year, as the MTA faced a budget cliff that posed one of the most existential threats in the system’s history, I proposed and then successfully worked with the state Legislature to provide significant, reliable and recurring operating funding for the MTA to secure in the state. As a result, the MTA is now in a strong financial position, allowing it to continue meeting its responsibilities to its millions of passengers to provide safe and timely transportation. And at a time when transit systems across the country are cutting back on service to their riders, New York has instead provided increased service within the MTA system,” said Hochul. “It is also important to note that the MTA is finalizing its 2025-2029 capital plan, which will be voted on by the MTA board this fall, and new sources of funding are needed. In the coming months, my team will work with the MTA to further develop a comprehensive approach to fund both the remaining projects in the 2020-2024 Capital Plan and the new Capital Plan. And I will continue to work with the state Legislature to implement comprehensive solutions and ensure appropriate funding sources in next year’s budget.”
