By Hank Russell | Long Island Life and Politics
The Trump administration is giving Governor Kathy Hochul (D) until May 21 to end the congestion pricing plan or else the state will no longer receive federal funding for non-safety road projects.
As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, President Donald Trump (R-FL) told Hochul that she initially had until March 21 to end the Central Business District Tolling Program (also known as the congestion pricing program). But, Hochul said she will dig in her heels and has no intention of shutting it down.
The Trump administration later changed its mind and extended the deadline by another 30 days. But now, Hochul has until next month to stop the cordon pricing program.
“I write to warn you that the State of New York risks serious consequences if it continues to fail to comply with Federal law, and to direct New York to show cause why the Federal Highway Administration … should not impose appropriate measures to ensure compliance,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in an April 21 letter to Hochul.
Duffy reiterated to Hochul that the program “imposes a disproportionate financial hardship on low and medium-income hardworking American drivers for the benefit of high-income drivers.” He added that motorists already pay for the roads through the gas tax and those who have to pay to drive below 60th Street in Manhattan “are now being forced to pay again while receiving no new highway benefits in return.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Hochul’s office. The governor responded in a statement, “I received the letter from USDOT extending their congestion pricing threats once again. I repeat: congestion pricing is legal — and it’s working. Traffic is down, business is up and the cameras are staying on.”
LILP also reached out to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Janno Lieber, the agency’s chair and CEO, said they are exploring their legal options, citing the legal issues Duffy raised in the letter.
“In the meantime, cameras are staying on, and New Yorkers continue to benefit from the first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program – with less traffic, cleaner air, safer streets and a stronger regional economy,” Lieber said in a statement.”
The MTA told Newsweek that the congestion pricing program, under the current tolling system, is expected to raise $500 million by the end of the year. Had the toll been set to $15 as initially proposed, that amount would have been $700 million.
This article originally appeared in Long Island Life and Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.
