Frustrated with the congestion pricing stop? Blame it on pizza.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul argued that the scrapped $15 toll, intended to reduce traffic in Midtown Manhattan and fund transit improvements, would have increased costs for essential deliveries, affecting everyone from teachers to pizza delivery drivers.
“It was just too much for New Yorkers at that time. $15, all at once, impacting people who are struggling, working hard in our city,” Hochul said on Tuesday. “$3800 a year for teachers, firefighters, police, healthcare workers, pizza delivery, businesses were concerned so I think people understand what was behind it.”
Hochul’s decision to cancel the rollout just days before it was scheduled to go into effect at the end of June has sparked controversy among transit advocates who saw the move as a setback for the city’s modernization plans.
Hochul assured that the pause is temporary and that a revised proposal to raise the necessary $15 billion for mass transit improvements will be presented in the next state budget. But previous attempts, including raising payroll taxes and reallocating state funds, all failed to gain legislative support in the past.
“We know that this is a temporary pause, we know that we have a timeline to really focus on this, have our plan in place, we can present it to the Legislature,” Hochul stated. “As you know, we presented some plans in June, we want to massage those and get a way that will earn the support of the Legislature.”
The suspension severely delayed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plans for modernization, putting off long-planned initiatives like buying electric buses, updating outmoded signals, and ADA-accessible subway stations. The Riders Alliance and other organizations have sued Hochul, claiming that her choice is illegal under state statutes governing climate change and congestion pricing.
A Siena College poll from June showed 45% of registered voters approved of the pause, while a more recent poll indicated that 70% of Long Island residents believe the toll should be permanently scrapped. Hochul denied that her decision was politically motivated to help Democrats regain suburban seats in the House of Representatives in the upcoming November 5 election.
