New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is facing significant financial challenges following Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to pause a congestion pricing plan. The plan, which was set to start on June 30, aimed to reduce traffic, improve air quality, and fund transit improvements. Without the expected revenue from congestion pricing, the MTA has announced it will need to defer $16.5 billion worth of capital upgrades, including the extension of the Second Avenue Subway to Harlem. The MTA's multi-year capital plan now faces a $15 billion shortfall, and the agency will need to slash $17 billion from its budget. The MTA board voted 10-1 to approve the pause. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has called for the MTA to provide a transparent accounting of its finances and prioritize essential projects. The decision has sparked criticism from various officials and advocates who argue that congestion pricing is crucial for improving traffic congestion, subway performance, and overall quality of life in New York City.
My @commonwealmag piece on congestion pricing is up! https://t.co/XKyDwBkDqQ
Congestion pricing will fix this 😉 https://t.co/oeloLLa31R
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to slow down congestion pricing could take the wind out of the state transit agency’s 2025-2029 capital plans, which are to be revealed this fall. https://t.co/yHd3wlCZPj
NYC needs congestion pricing. We need the relief from gridlock, the reduced pollution, and the funding for essential public transit. There's no substitute - let them know you won't forget ⤵️ https://t.co/1iqYC0UXpx https://t.co/eyTM8nV9uA
A major renovation was planned for Chambers Street station until Gov. Hochul’s pause on congestion pricing ripped a $16.5B hole in the MTA’s budget for construction projects. Now, the MTA has shelved plans to upgrade the station. https://t.co/RuqkLyMKBa https://t.co/uIjsWlrcaU
The MTA board is laying out which projects will be impacted by the congestion pricing pause, including work to extend the 2nd Avenue Subway. @wallernyc has the details. https://t.co/M4kbBEEIF9
At the MTA's first board meeting since Gov. Kathy Hochul announced congestion pricing will be on pause, members shared a plan that shifts away from station repairs, as well as projects that would have extended the Second Avenue Subway to Harlem. https://t.co/p9JUK40T9d
Hochul’s toll pause forces New York’s MTA to defer subway modernization https://t.co/8Y2k84kwIh
MTA board begrudgingly approves Hochul’s congestion pricing pause, delays $16.5B in projects during heated board meeting https://t.co/gwitsqRpqx https://t.co/QqGPoncf3O
Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to put a pause on congestion pricing has forced the MTA board to consider what projects might have to be scrapped or put on hold. @elijahwestbrook reports. https://t.co/Rqmcn59mW4
“There is absolutely a way to convince voters that the problems that they’re experiencing getting around New York can be solved by congestion pricing.” via @ndhapple https://t.co/SERihxWZgK https://t.co/nPAndFL0co
MTA leaders in New York City have scaled back billions of dollars’ worth of upgrades to the subway system after Gov. Kathy Hochul paused a congestion pricing plan. The tolling program would have paid for improvements and repairs. https://t.co/Ul6v1P9Ucd
The MTA has unveiled a plan to defer around $16.5 billion in work following Gov. Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing pause. https://t.co/z7n8r5DIRZ
As a longtime advocate for congestion pricing and a Congressional Representative for the CBD, I find @GovKathyHochul's 'indefinite pause' of congestion pricing misguided, harmful, and likely unlawful. Watch my testimony before the @MTA's Board Meeting today: https://t.co/JbCKcC3bTq
As a longtime advocate for congestion pricing and a Congressional Representative for the CBD, I find @GovKathyHochul's 'indefinite pause' of congestion pricing misguided, harmful, and likely unlawful." Watch my testimony before the @MTA's Board Meeting today: https://t.co/o6nQZg45JA
Congestion pricing was passed to create safer streets, reduce pollution, and improve public transit. Yet today, the @MTA confirmed the Governor's indefinite pause on the program. New from our team: How #CongestionPricing could—and should—benefit NYC. https://t.co/ry1MUf1EtR
The MTA formally delayed congestion pricing as reality of Gov. Hochul's decision leads to $16.5 billion in cuts. "Our reality for the capital plan changed dramatically 21 days ago." https://t.co/ch3rJ4Y8Yv
this statement makes no mention of congestion pricing & sure sounds like the Governor is looking to move past congestion pricing long-term https://t.co/1x3DmkGxDa
Even though we were assured that the pause on congestion pricing would only lead to a “reprioritization” rather than a reduction in capital investments (to claim otherwise, the Governor said, shows a “lack of imagination), the MTA has announced a delay in the Second Avenue Subway… https://t.co/XzE96gEHdW
The MTA plans to defer $16.5 billion worth of capital upgrades to modernize New York City’s aging transit system after Governor Kathy Hochul paused a congestion pricing plan https://t.co/fG7erExMMd via @citylab
MTA board votes 10-1 to pause congestion pricing https://t.co/Ls0Treb3Co
On Wednesday, the MTA board confirmed that it's gutting its ambitious future plans after Gov. Kathy Hochul paused the June 30 start of congestion pricing, which had been counted to reduce traffic, improve air quality and fund transit improvements. https://t.co/p9JUK40T9d
Today I testified to the @mta board & railed against the governor’s last-minute plan to pause congestion pricing. Not only is implementing this policy legally required—it will ease traffic, cut emissions, fund subway upgrades, and help working families. My full testimony: https://t.co/IrK2DClTz3
🔵 NEW YORK TRANSIT AGENCY VOTES TO INDEFINITELY HALT MANHATTAN CONGESTION PRICING A New York transit agency voted on Wednesday to indefinitely halt congestion pricing in Manhattan that was set to start on June 30 after the state's governor directed the action. Full Story via… https://t.co/dfoiYC5ajt
MTA Putting Transit Improvements on Pause Sans Congestion Pricing https://t.co/cSSr4hZbcu
The MTA plans to defer $16.5 billion worth of capital upgrades to modernize NYC's aging transit system — including extending the Second Avenue subway to Harlem — after Gov. Hochul paused a congestion pricing plan that would have funded such projects. https://t.co/3ZW1hyrtlN
The MTA plans to defer $16.5 billion worth of capital upgrades to modernize New York City’s aging transit system after Governor Kathy Hochul paused a congestion pricing plan https://t.co/T4WxGMBfXE
11 @NYCCouncil members have sent a new letter to @GovKathyHochul urging her "to follow the law and implement congestion pricing as planned on June 30." Cited reasons include transit, congestion, public health, traffic safety, economy, climate, & democracy: https://t.co/ljgsmRHivG
.@MTA chairman “we will discuss the capital program issues” —- and vote on a resolution about the roadmap forward — all related to the loss of projected #congestionpricing revenue. #NBC4NY https://t.co/hjZXiQxIge
NEW: a record (for a regular @MTA board meeting) *140 public speakers in what’s become a major vent session on #congestion pricing #congestionpricing — among speakers @RepJerryNadler by zoom who calls @GovKathyHochul indefinite pause “misguided” and “possibly illegal” #NBC4NY https://t.co/OAbsSqFdOc
I’m joining the @MTA board meeting to fight for #congestionpricingnow. Watch live: https://t.co/zP6UZ76fPS
Huh, seems cancelling congestion pricing in NYC was a bad idea. https://t.co/1B0wvNt5QD
Congestion pricing now! @GovKathyHochul flip the switch on June 30 and give NYers the congestion and transit relief we urgently need. https://t.co/bDRxRoFmhf
MTA set to bow to Gov. Hochul’s suspension of $15 congestion pricing toll — for now https://t.co/I5DbjMCwSm https://t.co/LXbOdUsLy7
New York’s MTA is expected to vote on a resolution that acknowledges Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to pause a congestion pricing initiative https://t.co/BkYdQTugCD
Without congestion pricing, the @mta is left with a $15 billion hole in its Capital Program and insufficient funding for planned expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and other projects. This decision will hurt all New Yorkers, who deserve a world-class subway system. https://t.co/DdS6CrnVEc
Still cannot get over how fucking carbrained it is for @GovKathyHochul to cancel congestion pricing because $15 is “too high” for (overwhelmingly) rich drivers, when it costs at least $12 to bring a family of 4 into/out of Manhattan on the subway, and $80 or more on LIRR/MNR
New York City’s MTA will need to slash $17 billion from its multi-year capital plan after Governor Kathy Hochul paused a congestion pricing initiative https://t.co/YLb7Qqb2Hx
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli finally breaks silence on MTA revenue after Gov. Kathy Hochul's congestion pricing decision: "The situation compels the MTA to provide an honest and transparent accounting of what it can afford and which capital projects it will prioritize." https://t.co/M8MyMdt0jl
Inbox, via @NYSComptroller: “NO GOOD OPTIONS FOR MTA TO MANAGE HOLE IN CAPITAL FUNDING” without congestion pricing https://t.co/u5H2sPq6KW https://t.co/hUufGjJBoP
I'm all for @GovKathyHochul taking another look at price points if that's how she'll get congestion pricing off indefinite pause. New Yorkers urgently need congestion pricing to move forward to improve traffic congestion, subway performance, and everyday life in the City. https://t.co/4mx7G2UxOr
NYC Congestion Pricing: Advocates Slam NY Gov for Halting Plan to Reduce Emissions, Fund Mass Transit https://t.co/VWi3eZ5RcA
Long live congestion pricing https://t.co/T0FF66FwlK
New York City’s transit agency is warning of financial pressures to its operating budget after Governor Kathy Hochul’s paused a congestion pricing plan that would have directed billions to transit infrastructure. https://t.co/ppIouGKuLP
Congestion Pricing is dead https://t.co/pgMaE5MBtn