UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) – Gov. Kathy Hochul may be pumping the brakes on congestion pricing.
She's looking to delay the controversial plan just weeks before its launch, according to multiple reports.
Hochul is worried about a hit to the city's economy, mainly in the Central Business District – which has not fully recovered from the coronavirus pandemic, according to reporting from The New York Times. She's been the MTA's ally in the plan to charge drivers.
Cars heading for south of 60th Street would pay a $15 toll during peak hours. Trucks would be charged anywhere from $24 to $36, depending on their size.
The MTA projected the plan would bring in a revenue stream of $1 billion a year, which would be used to improve roads and rails.
Hochul is instead considering taxing New York City businesses, which would require approval from the state legislature. The current legislative session is set to end Thursday.
A business tax would largely shift the financial burden drivers were expected to experience to businesses.
The move comes months before the 2024 election.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.
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