NYC driver congestion pricing indefinitely paused by Gov. Hochul
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
People walk across 42nd Street in New York City on May 28. Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday paused indefinitely the implementation of congestion pricing for drivers in New York City, weeks before the controversial initiative was set to take effect.
Why it matters: The first-in-the nation policy aimed to boost public transit use and improve air quality, but Hochul said it risked "unintended consequences" for New Yorkers' wallets and visits into Manhattan.
- "The goals of congestion pricing in terms of reducing traffic and pollution are important," Hochul said in a news conference. "But hard working New Yorkers are getting hammered on costs, and they and the economic vitality of our city must be protected."
Catch up quick: Vehicles were set to be charged at least $15 to drive in Manhattan during peak hours below 60th Street, deemed the city's "central business district."
- The tolls, which were going to begin on June 30, were meant to reduce traffic, improve air quality and raise $1 billion annually for public transit improvements.
- The number of cars in the toll zone was expected to drop 17%, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Zoom in: "A $15 charge may not seem like a lot to someone who has the means," Hochul said. "But it can break the budget of a hard-working or middle class household."
- "It puts the squeeze on the very people who make this city go."
What they're saying: New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he's "all for" determining how to approach congestion pricing correctly during a Wednesday news conference.
- "We have to get it right," he said. "This is a major shift in our city, and it must be done correctly."
Context: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of commuting into Manhattan since the 2019 state law that directed the MTA to implement congestion pricing, Hochul said.
- A shift in work norms might mean some commuters would have opted to skip Manhattan entirely under congestion pricing.
- "Drivers can now choose to stay home all together, telling employers they need to work fully remote again, or they might just change their patterns and skip the visits to the city on a Saturday with their family," Hochul said.
What we're watching: Hochul said her office remains committed to the improvements that are necessary to the city's public transit, including track repairs, new signals, elevators and security cameras.
- "We will tackle congestion in other ways," she said.
Go deeper: New York governor to deploy National Guard onto subways
