Congestion Pricing

Is this really the way a New York Democrat wants her legacy on transit and climate change to play out?

Can she even do this? And does she have a revenue plan? Maybe and no seem to be the answers.

Cut to the chase: The only story yesterday was Gov. Hochul's decision to shelve congestion pricing — likely killing it for another generation. Everyone in our world was basically holding their heads in their hands all day, mumbling either obscenities or serenity prayers quietly to themselves while slowly rocking back and forth.

She's made it much worse.

Hundreds of protesters rushed to Gov. Hochul's Midtown office on Wednesday to protest the governor's decision to abandon congestion pricing.

Hochul's logic for abandoning congestion pricing was dubious, and her commitment to her stated gridlock and climate goals are in the dustbin.

The plan was always controversial, but supporters have rightly pointed out that politicians need to act boldly, lest our society fail to meet its stated goals.

By channeling the very rhetoric of the toll's car-centric opponents, the governor has undermined her stated goal of improving the city.

I’ve said for years that there’s no smarter big-city public policy than congestion pricing and that New York is the place where congestion pricing can do the greatest good. Our combination of hellish traffic, excellent but underfunded transit to the central core, and commuters who place great value on driving guarantees it.