Governor Hochul Sued Over NYC Congestion Pricing Freeze
[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was sued over her pause on the city’s traffic congestion pricing plan by an advocacy group that claims she had no legal authority to put the program on hold.
In its lawsuit, filed July 25 in New York state court, the City Club of New York asked the court to force the New York Department of Transportation to implement the plan, declare that Hochul’s pause is unlawful and block the state from taking any further actions to halt the project.
The City Club says congestion pricing was the result of decades of efforts by multiple administrations and expert studies and includes “extensive input” from community groups, activists and “everyday New Yorkers.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was set to start charging drivers on June 30, but Hochul abruptly halted that plan on June 5 when she announced an indefinite pause, saying the new toll risked the district’s economic growth.
Our Transportation Committee brings experts together to propose practical solutions which meet the needs of New Yorkers. Learn about the untapped potential for convenient, accessible, and efficient public transportation in our City by viewing our webinars. https://t.co/sVRWeurkpC pic.twitter.com/kxC1F9zG3U — City ClubNY (@thecityclubny) July 22, 2024
The congestion pricing program was slated to be the first in the U.S., aimed at raising badly needed funds for a more than 100-year-old transit system while reducing traffic and improving air quality. It’s designed to generate $1 billion of annual revenue that the MTA would leverage to raise $15 billion for capital projects.
Want more news? Listen to today's daily briefing below or go here for more info:
