Hochul’s weak congestion pricing backtrack

Gov. Kathy Hochul‘s (D-NY) decision to backtrack on New York City’s congestion pricing plan reveals not just her dishonest character but also the conservative nature of many New York City residents. 

The plan, which would have charged drivers for entering Manhattan’s core business district, was designed to decrease traffic and pollution while simultaneously raising funds to improve the city’s subway and bus systems. 

Considering how close we are to the original start date of June 30, it’s clear this decision has little to do with caring about New Yorkers and much to do with behind-closed-doors pressure from stakeholders. Given the large number of people and organizations present on either side of the matter, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, climate activists, unions, politicians, and citizens, it’s fair to say Hochul was in a tough spot. 

But to backtrack at the eleventh hour like this, with the MTA having already purchased $500 million of equipment for tolling, is clearly representative of her ineffectual governance. If there was ever a possibility that the plan had problems or would need to be disposed of, why spend the money and drag New Yorkers through this controversy in the first place? The sunk costs here are immense. The congestion pricing plan has distressed many residents of the city, and the MTA has already set aside $15 billion for projects that would have been funded by revenue from the program.