The MTA’s Lieber said, “New Yorkers deserve cleaner air, safer streets and ambulances that can get to them without gridlock, and the governor is stepping up for them and for riders who need trains and buses to get them where they have to go—just like she did with the budget in 2023. Now you’re seeing it again, a huge milestone for 6.5 million commuters. We want to bring more frequent and reliable service to all our customers just like we have on the 7 and L lines where upgrades are already complete.”

Concerning the MTA capital program funding, the governor said, “This $9 daytime toll is enough to secure the $15 billion in MTA funding that congestion pricing was intended to support. We’re still getting the $15 billion to support the MTA and drivers are paying $6 less.

Gov. Hochul’s new congestion pricing plan has won the support from the Regional Plan Association, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Partnership for New York City and Real Estate Board of New York, among others.

The adjusted phase in tolling feature was overwhelmingly approved by the MTA Board at its Nov. 18. meeting. Under this plan, congestion pricing will be ready for implementation at midnight on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. The congestion pricing fees would be: passenger vehicles (once per day): $9; motorcycles (once per day): $4.50; small trucks and non-commuter buses: $14.40; large trucks and sightseeing buses: $21.60; tunnel crossing credits reduced by 40% of original plan; nighttime discounts of 75% of daytime tolls; per-ride fees for all trips to, from, or within the CBD: taxis and black cars: $0.75 and app-based for-hire vehicles: $1.50.

According to The New York Times, ‘The plan must now be signed off on by the Federal Highway Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation, and by the city and state transportation departments. Before the tolls can be charged, the MTA must also complete a 60-day public education campaign that was mandated by a 2019 state law authorizing the program. The MTA had started the campaign in late April, and had roughly 20 days left when the program was paused in June.”

Additionally, the administration expects to achieve congestion reduction and air quality benefits, including a 5% reduction in vehicle miles traveled and a 10% reduction in the number of vehicles entering Manhattan’s CBD.

Under Gov. Hochul’s plan, MTA will not raise the initial tolls beyond the following percentages of the approved structure: 60% (i.e. a $9 daytime automobile E-ZPass toll) from 2025 through 2027 and 80% (i.e. a $12 daytime automobile E-ZPass toll) from 2028 through 2030.

Gov. Hochul’s congestion pricing plan commits to funding the low-income discount and every place-based and regional mitigation as already committed to, including: $15 million to replace diesel-powered Transport Refrigeration Units at Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx;  $20 million to establish an asthma center and case management program in the Bronx;  $20 million to implement electric truck charging infrastructure; $10 million to install air filtration units in schools near highways; $10 million to install roadside vegetation; $25 million to renovate parks and greenspace; $20 million to expand the NYC Clean Trucks Program; $5 million to expand the NYCDOT Off-Hours Delivery Program; a 75% discounted overnight toll to reduce diversions and encourage off-hours truck deliveries and a 50% discount on the daytime E-ZPass toll rate after the first 10 trips in each calendar month for low-income drivers.

The governor is also proposing a package of new measures that will help reduce traffic and air pollution throughout New York City and beyond.

The governor has lined up support in the State Legislature and among some business and environmental groups.

Partnership for New York City President & CEO Kathryn Wylde said, “Excess congestion costs our metropolitan region more than $20 billion a year as movement of goods and people is slowed by traffic. The governor’s decision to allow congestion pricing to proceed, even with a reduced toll, will benefit business and consumers across the region and is a critical component for financing a better, safer and more reliable transit system.”

New York Building Congress President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura said, “Gov. Hochul’s plan to implement congestion pricing and fund mass transit represents a vital step forward for New York and our entire regional economy. Now is the time for all stakeholders to get behind the governor’s plan so we can get started on cleaner air, less traffic, better transit and a stronger economy for all.”

Building Trades Employers’ Association President & CEO Elizabeth Crowley said, “As MTA ridership returns to pre-pandemic levels and more cars crowd our streets, unpausing congestion pricing now will generate $15 billion to modernize the transit system. The governor’s action is a crucial step to advance and rebuild our essential public transit system.”

Rockland County Executive Ed Day, a longtime opponent of congestion pricing, said in a statement: “We stand firmly against this misguided charge and commend our colleagues in New Jersey, Long Island, Staten Island, and especially Senator Bill Weber, who is actively pushing for a permanent repeal of the Congestion Pricing plan. He additionally is pushing legislation that would increase the Dutchess, Orange, and Rockland Fund Allocations (DORF) for mass transit improvements from $2 million to $10 million. Another bill would provide Rockland residents a rebate,” Mr. Day stated. He added, “Gov. Hochul should eliminate Congestion Pricing entirely, and I pledge that my administration will continue our legal fight, alongside our allies in government, to protect the hardworking Rocklanders we represent from this unnecessary expense.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, another stanch opponent of the plan, released a statement following the announcement to un-pause the pause.  “I am firmly opposed to any attempt to force through a congestion pricing proposal in the final months of the Biden Administration. All of us need to listen to the message that voters across America sent last Tuesday, which is that the vast majority of Americans are experiencing severe economic strains and still feeling the effects of inflation. There could not be a worse time to impose a new $9 toll on individuals who are traveling into downtown Manhattan for work, school, or leisure.”

Gov. Murphy added, “I have consistently expressed openness to a form of congestion pricing that meaningfully protects the environment and does not put unfair burdens upon hardworking New Jersey commuters.”

Prior to Gov. Hochul’s announcement, Andrew Albert, a member of the MTA board, told the Associated Press he supported the return of the congestion pricing fee but worried that reported $9 daily congestion pricing fee would not be enough to achieve the policy’s goals, he opined. “It doesn’t raise enough money, it doesn’t clear enough cars off the streets or make the air clean enough.”