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Will NY revive congestion pricing with $9 car tolls?
Clip: 11/11/2024 | 4m 26sVideo has Closed Captions
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul had paused the program before the elections
In the aftermath of former President Donald Trump's victory, environmental advocates in New Jersey contend time is running out on chances to restart the controversial congestion pricing program for lower Manhattan. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had paused the program back in June, over concerns that an anti-toll backlash could hurt Democrats in congressional races this month.
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NJ Spotlight News is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
NJ Spotlight News
Will NY revive congestion pricing with $9 car tolls?
Clip: 11/11/2024 | 4m 26sVideo has Closed Captions
In the aftermath of former President Donald Trump's victory, environmental advocates in New Jersey contend time is running out on chances to restart the controversial congestion pricing program for lower Manhattan. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had paused the program back in June, over concerns that an anti-toll backlash could hurt Democrats in congressional races this month.
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After a months long pause, it appears congestion pricing isn't dead after all.
As first reported by Politico, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is considering reviving the program.
Reportedly having reached out to the federal dot about next steps, Hochul, of course, killed the proposal in June ahead of the election due to political concerns about Democrats losing seats in the House.
Now a senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan, reports.
It appears the deal is back on the table.
If you've driven into Manhattan lately, you've experienced the soul crushing crawl of the media on Rush, and worried advocates say it's getting a lot worse.
There was just a new record set for the lowest speed recorded in midtown Manhattan and less than five miles per hour.
Environment New Jersey's Doug O'Malley says time's running out on chances to restart congestion pricing as a way to reduce both traffic and pollution.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul had paused the controversial program back in June over concern that an anti toll backlash could have hurt Democrats in New York's congressional races this November.
She's now apparently considering a reboot with lower tolls than the original 15 bucks a car plan.
I simply said this was a pause.
We know our time frame better than anybody.
We're watching this.
We're continuing to drive.
Spoke to the White House about this least three days ago.
They understand our need to take affirmative steps to ensure that nothing compromises the MTA.
We're now at a moment where congestion pricing won't happen if it's not implemented in the next two months because of the impending presidency of Donald Trump.
The president elect on Truth social called congestion pricing, a massive business killer and tax on New Yorkers and anyone going into Manhattan.
I will terminate congestion pricing in my first week back in office, he vowed.
But Politico's reported hopefuls looking at gaining quick federal approval for a reduced toll $9 a car more for trucks entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak rush hours.
Opponents, however, remain opposed even to a $9 toll.
I'm hopeful that that Governor Hochul doesn't flip flop on this.
That's my hope.
If she does, we'll be fighting it again.
You know, I'm not shy about this.
Democrat Josh Gottheimer sued New York City and introduced legislation to block congestion pricing, noting the $15 billion it expected to raise only benefited New York City's mass transit system, while increasing pollution for towns around the George Washington Bridge from trucks that detoured to escape the extra toll.
It's outrageous.
Obviously, Jersey doesn't get a penny of it for its mass transit or any systems, and it's just a way of sticking it too hard to Jersey.
And obviously I'm going to be strongly opposed to it's already too expensive for families and people to commute every day.
But without a stream of congestion pricing cash, the MTA has been forced to slash improvement projects, a concern for Hochul and for the Regional Plan Association, which says Trump could kill the plan which it endorsed.
The federal government does need to sign off on this program for it to be implemented.
So there is really a sense of urgency here to get this in place before he takes office in mid-January.
She says a $9 toll remains within the regulatory pricing range.
Originally signed off on by federal regulators.
But if Jersey drivers also get a promised $5 credit, would it still deter folks from driving into the city?
So we really want to see the details.
But $9 is certainly within the threshold of what was studied and would deliver a lot of the benefits, maybe not quite as much as the $15, but what would be a, you know, a strong a strong step forward for sure.
But honestly, you have to have a toll that encourages people not to drive in and provides the funding for the MTA to ensure that our subway and bus system in New York City does not enter a death spiral.
Advocates are waiting to see whether federal transportation officials could and would relaunch congestion pricing on such a short runway.
I'm Brenda Flanagan.
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