Congestion pricing is back, and no one is happy about it: Letters to the Editor — Nov. 18, 2024

t: The Issue: Gov. Hochul reviving the controversial congestion pricing program with a reduced fee of $9. As predicted, Gov. Hochul waited until right after the election to impose congestion pricing… Since 2019, the party line was that it would require a $15 toll for congestion pricing to raise $15 billion. This would help fund the MTA’s $54.8 billion 2020—2024 Five Year Capital Plan. Now five years later, Hochul claims that the same $15 billion can be raised with a $9 toll. She proudly boasts that this 40% reduction in the price will save commuters and taxpayers a significant amount of money. How do you justify the change in math five years later? No details were provided at Hochul’s press conference to explain this (New York Post). Tom Elliot: Kathy Hochul: “We’re saving you 40%” by starting to charge $9 to enter Manhattan instead of $15 as we originally planned; “this lower toll will save daily commuters nearly $1,500 annually” It will not save New Yorkers anything. Current tolls are $0. They’re playing with language to deceive residents to give them more money.