cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/25858499
Summary
NYC’s congestion pricing program, launched Jan 5 after Biden administration approval, faces new threats from the Trump administration.
Governor Kathy Hochul vows to keep the toll scanners active, deeming Trump’s effort and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s order an attack on the city.
The MTA swiftly filed a legal complaint to uphold the $9 toll, citing reduced traffic and critical funding for mass transit.
Legal experts warn the Trump administration faces an uphill legal battle.
I’m not a New Yorker and don’t know if that’s part of how it got sold to the public, but NYC already has transit and has presumably been funding it, so I would expect any congestion pricing revenue to just be a bonus.
A big part of the plan was that in addition to reducing car usage, the revenues collected by congestion pricing would be used to make huge investments in improving public transit, thereby reducing car dependencey even further. Win-win!
The toll is definitely intended to collect money. Reduction in congestion is a side effect. MTA is in a huge budget deficit. The tolling (and subsequent bonding) would fund them entirely.