Hochul: We Won’t Be ‘Steamrolled’ by Trump on Congestion Pricing
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s road show in support of congestion pricing made a stop in Midtown Wednesday at an MTA board meeting — after her in-person pitch last week to President Donald Trump.
Early Gains
Vowing that New York "will not be steamrolled" by the federal government’s bid to shut down the vehicle-tolling plan by a newly revealed March 21 deadline, Hochul cited the early gains of the effort to cut congestion and raise billions of dollars for mass-transit upgrades.
"I know there’s a lot of power in that Oval Office, but I’ll take that power up against the power of 6 million pissed-off commuters there in New York City," Hochul said.
She also pointed to a letter from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy last week that called for the "orderly cessation of toll operations" that kicked in January 5.
"I will propose something in the alternative: orderly resistance, orderly resistance," Hochul said. "We will keep standing up for New Yorkers, reducing traffic, air quality is going to continue improving."
A Message to Trump
During Hochul’s cameo at the board meeting held in Grand Central Madison, she needled Trump while holding up a copy of the booklet she gave him during their Oval Office sitdown on February 21, noting that it is easy to read.
"Congestion pricing is working — big words, nice colors," she said to laughs, pointing to an image of an empty Manhattan street that cites a 43% drop in trip times from New Jersey.
The governor grinned while pointing to another page with a photo of Trump Tower — "nice buildings that are recognizable," she cracked — next to the words "TOGETHER, WE WILL…".
Funding Transportation Projects
Her pitch also highlighted transportation projects in the MTA’s 2020-2024 capital plan that are supposed to be funded by congestion pricing revenues. Those include the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway and preliminary design and engineering on the proposed Interborough Express light rail line between Brooklyn and Queens.
"The people of this great city and region deserve nothing but the best," Hochul said. "And when someone tries to say, ‘No, we have another vision for your city,’ we just have to stand up and say ‘We respectfully disagree,’ and take that to the courts, take it to the people."
A Message to the MTA
The MTA immediately sued USDOT in federal court after the Duffy order, which was followed up days later by another specifying that the tolling system must be turned off by March 21.
The governor and MTA officials on Wednesday also continued to promote some of the initial successes made under the vehicle-tolling plan that was supposed to launch in late June — when Hochul abruptly hit pause, a delay she moved to undo days after voters elected Trump for a second term.
Early Wins
Congestion pricing launched after surviving multiple lawsuits filed on both sides of the Hudson River.
"The important thing is there’s going to be no cessation unless a court orders it," MTA Chairperson and CEO Janno Lieber said. "And we now have a matter pending in front of the Southern District [Manhattan federal court] where, as they say in the sports business, is a batting a thousand with all the lawsuits.
"Amd we’re very optimistic about where this next one is headed."
Transit officials reported earlier this week that, after its first 27 days in January, congestion pricing is on track to raise the money needed for transit upkeep and expansion projects included in the agency’s more than $55 billion five-year capital plan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA are committed to standing up for the people of New York City and region, reducing traffic, and improving air quality. Despite attempts by the federal government to shut down the vehicle-tolling plan, the MTA will continue to work towards its goal of raising billions of dollars for mass-transit upgrades.
FAQs
Q: What is congestion pricing?
A: Congestion pricing is a system of tolls imposed on drivers who enter certain areas of Manhattan to reduce traffic congestion and raise revenue for mass-transit upgrades.
Q: What are the benefits of congestion pricing?
A: The benefits of congestion pricing include reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality, and increased revenue for mass-transit upgrades.
Q: What is the current status of the vehicle-tolling plan?
A: The vehicle-tolling plan, also known as congestion pricing, was launched in January 2020 and is currently facing a federal court challenge from the US Department of Transportation.
