NYC Congestion Pricing Postponed Indefinitely in 'Stunning Reversal'

MTA and transit advocates in New York City are blindsided by Gov. Kathy Hochul's announcement that the city’s long-awaited congestion pricing plan implementation will not move forward on June 30.

2 minute read

June 5, 2024, 12:00 PM PDT

By Mary Hammon @marykhammon


Aerial view of traffic in New York City entering Queens Midtown tunnel

Mirror-images / Adobe Stock

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the indefinite postponement of New York City’s congestion pricing program, which had been slated to start on June 30. ABC 7 Eyewitness News reports that the governor, who has been a vocal supporter of the plan in the past, framed the “stunning reversal” as economic, saying the timing isn’t right as the city is still recovering from the pandemic and New Yorkers are struggling with housing, food, and childcare costs. “The governor expressed concern suburban commuters would choose to work from home or skip recreational visits to the city,” the article reads.

The announcement is a blow for transit advocates, who “championed the tolls as a way of raising billions of dollars for New York's beleaguered subway and commuter rail systems while reducing traffic in the city's streets.”

It also leaves MTA, which faces a $1 billion budget deficit without implementation and whose board had not been briefed on the delay at the time the article's publication, in limbo. “I'm in shock," Andrew Albert, a member of the board, told the news outlet. "We won't get new buses, new subway cars, new signals. It's a betrayal of the millions and millions of people who would have been helped by this.”

This move is the latest in what’s been a long and eventful journey from conception to near-implementation. Planetizen has reported extensively on the plan, which would be the first of its kind in the U.S., including an analysis by Planetizen blogger Marcelo Remond and Donald Shoup, breakdown of its pricing — including program exemptions and discounts announced earlier this week — the lawsuits filed against it, and more.

The ABC 7 Eyewitness News article says, “There remains a belief that congestion pricing is inevitable” and hints that the motivation for the delay could be political, “as Democrats are facing difficult House races in the New York City suburbs. Republicans have planned to use congestion pricing as a political wedge.”

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 in ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.