Gov. Kathy Hochul to make NYC congestion pricing announcement Thursday
NEW YORK -- Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to make an announcement Thursday about congestion pricing in New York City, her office said.
"Gov. Hochul paused congestion pricing because a daily $15 toll was too much for hard-working New Yorkers in this economic climate. Tomorrow, the governor will announce the path forward to fund mass transit, unclog our streets and improve public health by reducing air pollution," Hochul's office said Wednesday.
Sources tell CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer the toll will return by the end of December, or early January, but there are still a number of hurdles ahead.
The plan needs to go through the federal process first, and the MTA needs to test the cameras to make sure they work before a date is set.
In addition, the MTA needs to officially approve the new price of $9 at their next board meeting. Once that's done, we'll see an official date set.
Sources tell Kramer the $9 price point was the lowest cited on the environmental impact report, so if they change it to under $9, a new environmental impact report would be needed.
The governor has previously said she wanted to end her pause on the plan, and reduce the toll from $15 to $9.
"These conversations are not new. We have been in communication with the White House, the Federal Highway Administration, [President Joe] Biden's chief of staff, Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg since June," Hochul said on Tuesday.
Hochul paused the program just weeks before it was set to start back in June. She now appears to be poised to try to launch the program before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
"This is $15 billion of investments in our subways that we're never going to see again if we don't get them started before January 20th," City Comptroller Brad Lander said.
Trump has vowed to kill congestion pricing.
"Could Donald Trump try to sue New York? He could, but we believe it's on solid legal ground and that's part of what we have to look at, make sure all the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed so that it'll withstand challenges in court," Lander said.
Pushback against the congestion pricing plan
Word of Hochul's desire to end her pause on the program drew the ire of a bipartisan group of lawmakers Tuesday.
Wednesday, Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents several communities in the northern suburbs, again spoke out against the plan.
"Gov. Hochul's congestion pricing scheme is nothing more than a massive new tax on working families, daily commuters, college students, and local residents who just want to travel within the city they call home," Lawler said. "Frankly, this plan amounts to legalized theft by a governor and state government that is out of control and out of touch with everyday New Yorkers."
Lawler said any elected official or member of the media referring to the $9 toll as a reduction should be ashamed.
"Gov. Hochul is trying to pick the pockets of New Yorkers to bail out the corrupt MTA's waste, fraud, and abuse, and that's shameful," he said.
Lawler said he would introduce a bill called the Anti-Congestion Tax Act, which would deny the MTA federal aid if drivers are charged a fee to enter Manhattan's Central Bustiness District, below 60th Street.
"She's so cynical and arrogant to be able to say with a straight face that she's going to unpause congestion pricing a week after the election," Rep. Nicole Malliotakis said. "Even if they do proceed and are successful in getting it implemented by January 20th ... the Trump administration can still require it be halted so an environmental impact statement could be made ... That's what I'll urge them to do."
"In a time of inflation, New York's attempt whack Jersey families with another tax is utterly absurd. I'll be damned if I am going to let the MTA balance their mismanaged, out-of-control budget at the expense of Jersey taxpayers. I'm ready to fight the Congestion Tax again to protect Jersey families from more taxes and more pollution. We stopped the Congestion Tax once and we'll stop it again. Game on," N.J. Rep. Josh Gottheimer said.
Lawmakers have vowed to block the rollout until Trump gets into office in January 2025. Meanwhile, several lawsuits have been filed on both sides.
