WTF is Up with Congestion Pricing?
The latest on Trump’s attempt to pull the plug—and how to fight back
Yesterday, just as we were about to press send on our last email, the Trump administration announced that it was revoking federal approval for congestion pricing. Once again, the fate of city streets and subways were thrown into chaos.
What’s going on, and what comes next?
Congestion pricing has been in effect since early January, and the benefits are crystal clear: buses and car commutes are faster, traffic violence is down, and desperately needed transit improvements are underway. Six weeks in, the previously unpopular program is already up to 60% approval.
Thankfully, the MTA immediately filed suit to keep the cameras on. Legal experts say that revocation of approval for transportation projects is unprecedented and rests on shaky legal grounds; litigation could take months or years.
In the meantime, Governor Kathy Hochul is standing strong, rejecting Trump’s move as the attempted diktat of a tyrant.
That’s welcome defense from the governor who was congestion pricing’s biggest champion before suddenly “pausing” its launch last summer. (If congestion pricing had been in effect for eight months instead of six weeks, it would likely be much harder to kill now.)
What about all of us? Here are three actions to take over the coming days:
Now: Call Governor Hochul at 1-518-474-8390 and thank her for standing strong!
Tomorrow: Come hear what mayoral candidates have to say about congestion pricing, and other transit and public space issues, at the “Safe, Beautiful, Accessible Streets” forum.
Saturday: Attend the rally in support of congestion pricing at 3pm at the TKTS stairs in Times Square.
I’d like to thank her if I wasn’t so pissed that she didn’t give Eric Adams the boot.