Tomorrow begins several MTA information webinars on the upcoming congestion pricing program to charge vehicles a toll for driving south of 60th St. The 60-minute sessions, with half the time devoted to questions and answers for participants, were to begin on June 5, with the first one being held at 11 that morning.
But it was scratched and something else occurred at that very hour, as Gov. Hochul issued her recorded video announcement at 11:55, saying that “I have directed the MTA to indefinitely pause the program.” In truth, Hochul had no authority to direct the MTA to contravene state law, but her interference stalled everything.
Now, after a six-month delay, the webinars will commence on Wednesday and pick up as though nothing happened.
But a lot has happened. On the bad side, six months of toll revenues, a half billion dollars, vanished. The fee, now due to begin on Jan. 5, was also chopped by 40%, bringing in 40% less for the MTA. On the upside, Hochul was sued by the City Club of New York and the Riders Alliance for breaking state law. Those cases have been settled as Hochul relented and the MTA has rescheduled the tolling start from June 30 until next month.
The last piece of paperwork, the Value Pricing Pilot Program agreement, which Hochul blocked, was signed by all four parties, the state, city, MTA and feds, on Nov. 21.
But there are still threats. The nine federal lawsuits against tolling suing either the feds or the MTA filed before Hochul’s June 5 pause, by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, Downtown residents, teachers union President Michael Mulgrew, New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, the Town of Hempstead, the Trucking Association of New York and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus. have all been reactivated, with motions and orders.
And there’s now a 10th case, this time the Town of Hempstead suing Hochul in state court last month, which has now moved to federal court. We hope the various judges don’t slow down congestion pricing, as on Jan. 20, Donald Trump will arrive with his promise to kill the toll.
