The City Comptroller and a coalition of organizations filed two new lawsuits challenging Governor Hochul’s indefinite pause on congestion pricing.
Both lawsuits argue that halting the plan violates state law.
The first holds that Hochul does not have the authority to stop the MTA Traffic Reform and Mobility Act of 2019, which was passed by both chambers of the state Legislature and signed into law by her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.
The other lawsuit, led by Earthjustice and Riders Alliance, focuses on the state’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Drivers, for their part, fear the impact.
“It’s a lot of money in terms of having to pay the toll and pay again for an entry into Manhattan and most people work in Manhattan. “It’s a place where everyone works, a tourist place, a place where everyone comes; since it’s the center, everyone passes through there,” said Angelo Leon, a driver.
“Actually, all the tolls should already be covering that. They just raised the toll for Staten Island. They raised the other one for New Jersey and by putting it here, what they’re going to cause is more congestion on the MTA, on the buses and all that. People are going to stop driving here,” added Leiton Matamoros.
The plaintiffs cite that the plan’s halt has resulted in a $15 billion shortfall in the MTA’s budget.
State Senator Gustavo Rivera spoke about the issue a few days ago on Pura Política.
“We have invested almost 600 million dollars in the equipment that is already on the streets, which had to be turned on so that people could be charged when they came in. But that equipment is still there and it is almost 600 million dollars – and if we don’t continue with the program, then we have wasted it.”
The governor responded in a statement: “Get in line. There are now 11 separate lawsuits over congestion pricing filed by groups attempting to use the court system as a weapon to score political points.” The statement also said the governor “continues to focus on funding transportation, reducing congestion and protecting working New Yorkers.”
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