What to Know
- The U.S. Division of Transportation introduced on Wednesday it’s withdrawing its help for New York Metropolis’s first-in-the-nation congestion pricing plan, opening a brand new chapter within the controversial program’s historical past.
- Whereas the division supplied the authorization for the pilot program, congestion pricing is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
- An finish to congestion pricing may result in the delay or finish of a number of infrastructure tasks introduced by the MTA that depend on funding from the $9 peak-hour toll to enter Manhattan.
The U.S. Division of Transportation introduced on Wednesday it’s withdrawing its help for New York Metropolis’s first-in-the-nation congestion pricing plan, opening a brand new chapter within the controversial program’s historical past.
The division launched a letter from Secretary Sean Duffy it mentioned it despatched to Gov. Kathy Hochul concerning its determination to “terminate” approval of the congestion pricing program, which it had initially granted on Nov. 21 underneath the Biden administration.
Whereas the reactions to the information of congestion pricing are combined amongst New York and New Jersey elected officers, a spokesperson from the governor’s workplace mentioned any descriptions of congestion pricing as over are untimely.
The president posted on Fact Social, in the meantime, that this system was halted, including “LONG LIVE THE KING” who “saved” New York. So what is the case?
Can the DOT terminate congestion pricing unilaterally?
The Division of Transportation’s letter signifies that they have been withdrawing help for the tolling plan however didn’t specify a date by which it will “terminate” the pilot program. Whereas the division supplied the authorization for the pilot program, congestion pricing is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
In an announcement, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber mentioned the company filed “papers” in federal court docket to make sure the plan will stay in place.
“It’s mystifying that after 4 years and 4,000 pages of federally-supervised environmental assessment – and barely three months after giving closing approval to the Congestion Reduction Program – USDOT would search to completely reverse course.,” the chairman added.
NYC Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander mentioned his workplace was exploring “all obtainable choices” to reverse the Trump administration’s determination to cease congestion pricing.
What tasks may very well be affected by an finish to congestion pricing?
On Jan. 10, days after the controversial program began, the MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber introduced the buy of 265 electrical buses as the primary challenge “unlocked” by congestion pricing. The busses have been bought throughout the first week and are anticipated to be in circulation throughout the town later this 12 months.
One other massive challenge that may very well be affected by the doable finish of congestion pricing is the second part of the Second Avenue subway extension. Within the days earlier than the toll was applied, the MTA issued a request for proposals from firms that might design and construct the extension of the Q line between 96th and one hundred and twenty fifth streets, THE CITY, an unbiased newsroom reported.
When the challenge was “paused” final summer time, NBC New York reported on that the pause would affect tasks so as to add elevators and ramps for a minimum of 18 subway stations and upgrading alerts for C & F traces in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Within the letter, Duffy acknowledges that an finish to congestion pricing “might deprive the transit company of funding, however any reliance on that funding stream was not affordable provided that FHWA permitted solely a ‘pilot challenge.'”
