NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is organizing an effort to explore potential legal action to bring back congestion pricing, he announced Wednesday.
When the MTA board approved the plan in March, the comptroller issued a statement that referenced the process.
"Congestion pricing will ease traffic, cut carbon emissions, and provide our beleaguered transit system with the resources it needs to modernize signals, boost accessibility, and serve more riders. New York City cannot wait to get moving," said Lander.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has characterized the current state of congestion pricing as a pause, and that discussions about funding for the MTA are ongoing.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the MTA is currently working to reprioritize capital projects in the wake of Hochul's decision. The loss of congestion pricing funding will mean many projects, like resignaling, are "vulnerable" now, Lieber said.
“We have to make some hard choices,” Lieber said Wednesday.
Lieber said the MTA has $28.5 billion left in its capital program and only $13 billion now to do it.
The congestion pricing plan has already been challenged in court by New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing and the United Federation of Teachers.
The MTA has a regularly scheduled monthly meeting during the last week of June. Lander said if congestion pricing is not implemented, he will take the issue to court.
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