Left rectangle ads redesigned
Robert Ripps book
History of Tribeca Buildings
New York gets a letter from the ‘king’ on congestion pricing
It is absurd but true. This was the post on X by The White House yesterday: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” –President Donald J. Trump
The Trump administration did in fact make a first effort to disassemble congestion pricing yesterday; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul saying that the agency will revoke federal approval for MTA’s tolling plan that started on Jan. 5. (It’s a state plan, but it has to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration.)
The MTA filed a lawsuit within minutes, and the governor’s team explained the legal strategy in a press conference yesterday, and stating clearly that the state is not going back on congestion pricing — “we are not turning off the tolls,” the MTA chairman said. (Traffic is down 9 percent, and 1.2 million fewer vehicles entered the district, and bus speeds went up, especially express buses. The MTA said there were half as many crashes in January as well.)
And the governor gave a rousing speech about the state’s plan to fight Washington.
“The Department of Transportation emailed us a letter announcing their attempt to end the congestion pricing program in the state of New York,” Hochul said. “At 1:58 pm, President Donald Trump tweeted, ‘Long live the king.’ I am here to say that New York hasn’t labored under a king in 250 years and we are sure as hell not going to start now…
“We stood up to a king and we won then. In case you do not know New Yorkers, we’re in a fight, we do not back down — not now not ever…I don’t care if you love congestion pricing or hate it, this is an attack on our sovereignty, our independence, from Washington. We are a nation of states. We are not subservient to a king or anyone else from Washington.
“Without safe efficient public transportation, our system shuts down, our economy shuts down, our nation’s economy shuts down…If somehow they are successful, the next time you are stuck in traffic, the next time your train is delayed, the next time your station is flooded, think of this. You know where the blame goes. We know this plan is working.”
19 Comments
Comment:
Medium rectangle #1 (top)
Right column rectangle ads
Mega rectangle
Restaurant guide icon
I was ambivalent about congestion pricing when it was being discussed but have become a big fan of it. It has accomplished a primary goal, which was to reduce congestion. Traffic in Tribeca is so much better, as it is in the surrounding areas of the city with far fewer cars going through the bridges and tunnels. By raising the price of driving relative to mass transit, they have accomplished something virtuous for NYers below 60th Street (less car congestion), with the ancillary benefit of reduced emissions. Safety has to have improved as well, though I have not seen any statistics for that. Sorry for those that prefer the benefit of driving to my neighborhood because it is free and more convenient for them but it is still a place where people live and work and the quality of our lives has been so much better under congestion pricing. I wish Secretary Duffy had taken the time to ask the people that it impacts the most.
This speech was good; a bit unexpected from Hochul, but she clearly knows she has to play defense against a raging Trump administration for both the good of the state, and for her future political career.
We’ll see, she may be able to convince me to vote for her, especially if she’s up against the slimy Ritchie Torres in the primary.
Trump did himself no favors in the impending lawsuits by calling himself a king; but it could all just be for show, anyway. I don’t think he cares in the slightest, but he gets to give Mike Lawler some good talking points for his gubernatorial run.
Are you people delusional? TDS is real. The congestion tax is another theft from the state government to hurt the working man. You cannot quantify *emissions* impact or trust that the mta is going to use these funds for proper use. Read the room this policy was rejected at the ballot box in November. America is fundamentally against your radical leftist ideology . Lastly the “king” comment is meant to enrage people like you… please don’t forget the team you support put a senile man in charge or the country for four years and hid it.. or put men in women’s sports.. tampons in bathroom… endless wars.. weaponized justice system to name a few. truly sad behavior from many liberal New Yorkers. Try to put your pride aside for a minute and admit some of his work will benefit the American people. Kathy hochul was not elected and this is a tyrannical move but yes…clutch your pearls and focus on him saying king.
Yikes.
Kathy Hochul won an election 2022 with 53% of the vote. The plan itself was passed by the State legislature (all duly elected) in 2019.
I think we have different definitions of the word tyranny.
Any tolls on roads partially funded by the Federal funds need to be approved by the federal government.
I know. It did get approval.
Which has now been withdrawn . . .
For some reason I can’t reply directly, but:
That’s not how the law works. Once approval was granted, ultimate authority rests with I believe the TBTA. The government can’t change its mind capriciously, or every time an administration changes, or the system doesn’t work.
That’s why the suit was filed by the MTA right away, and most legal experts expect them to prevail; and it’s why I believe Trump did this mostly for show. Sean Duffy’s letter is pretty shallow and hollow.
Now, whether this matters anymore, in a country where laws don’t seem to matter much to those in power, that remains to be seen. But legally speaking, the State is on very solid ground, and I’d rather be on their side in court.
It’s funny, ironic, and quite sad that you refer to Hochul as tyrannical but not Trump. Please do some introspection on yourself and your values, there’s plenty of room here for you when you’re ready. I pray for you.
Congestion pricing has made a significant positive impact in Tribeca due to lower Holland Tunnel traffic. Subways are definitely more crowded and foot traffic in the congestion zone is up. Its still early in the program but its hard to see how this is doing more harm than good. Importantly people are becoming more supportive of the program as they see the positive impact. The people opposing congestion pricing is vocal minority of drivers. The governor should hold firm and not fold. It’s a winning issue the longer it plays out and legally they have a good case. The MTA also needs to push through system improvements quickly and could do more to better manage their budget and stop waste.
Thank you. Stand up to the self-proclaimed “king” who is at the same time not a dictator.
I’m all for congestion pricing and I do see the improvements in traffic here in Tribeca. In addition, we still need other reforms to improve the general state of the streets and transit:
– enforce traffic laws, against speeding, red-light running, blocking the box, and of course…gratuitous HORN HONKING
– that includes laws for cyclists of all sorts
– enforce against fare evasion
Well said.
i know someone personally that drove their car into our neighborhood twice, back and forth, and back and forth, for their work here in tribeca.. which is totally crazy… that person now takes public transportation, as they should.
i remember when the city banned smoking in bars. there was a very small but vocal group of people that was outraged.
This is a distraction. It raises $1.4b in taxes annually in a state that spends $250b, a city that spends $125b, and an MTA that needs $60b in improvements, all for 11% of the cars off the road. Not to mention, Hochul has played this crowd for fools for years now. She was against it. Then in favor then against. In favor. She blamed Cuomo. She blames Trump. It’s endless. Raise taxes on people who live in Brooklyn and Queens and Westchester. That’s all this is.
My biggest problem with the congestion charge is that it’s improved traffic downtown… by shifting it all uptown. North of 61st street is a nightmare! Out of town people who used to drive into midtown are still driving, parking car north of 61st and walking a few blocks. Therefore, in the overall city, the congestion charge has done nothing! Unless they expand the district to 96th or 135th street to really keep car out of Manhattan, the impact is not significant.
Citation needed. I’ve seen no reporting on this that isn’t completely anecdotal NY Post garbage. CP is working. You’ll get used to it.
he can call himself anything he wants as long as he gets rid of the god awful congestion pricing money grab. i’ve got an idea on how the mta can raise money. how about people actually paying the fare and arrest those that don’t.
hochul is a disaster.
The improvements from congestion pricing that I’ve seen or heard about secondhand have been so amazing that I wonder if anyone still opposed even lives in the NYC metropolitan area. Hochul had vastly improved my opinion of her by defending the program.
totally against the cash grab especially since the proceeds are going directly to the most corrupt, arrogant entity the MTA. I think it does help traffic flow in Tribeca but still hurts economy and pockets of working class, as for the argument for less emissions, that’s a joke since there are no less cars on the road, just re-routed. I can almost be convinced at a much lower tax, say $5 and proceeds go to NYC services. MTA should be audited, There should be transparent oversight, They are the worst run organization next to NYC council