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Dear New Yorkers,
At yesterday’s MTA Board meeting, I railed against Governor Hochul’s last-minute plan to pause congestion pricing. You can watch my testimony here. [[link removed]]
In it, I urge the MTA Board to pass a resolution affirming its readiness to implement congestion pricing, and to do everything it can to make clear to the Governor and the State Transportation Commissioner that doing so is legally required.
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Congestion pricing is supposed to go into effect on June 30. Not only is implementing congestion pricing the law —it’s one of those rare policies that will deliver benefits that every single New Yorker is clamoring for, no matter who you are or where you live.
If you want cleaner air, congestion pricing is for you. Less traffic? Congestion pricing. Lower greenhouse gas emissions? Congestion pricing. Speed up buses? Congestion pricing. Fund improvements to the MTA, like making subways more accessible and trains faster and more frequent? Congestion pricing!
If Governor Hochul is serious about looking out for working class New Yorkers, she will help us implement congestion pricing right away. If she cancels it indefinitely? She’ll be delivering service cuts; jam-packed, sweaty subway platforms; gridlock; air quality alerts; and out of service elevators.
After all, subway riders are the bread and butter of our city’s working class and economic engine. Hospitality, retail, food and building services, home health care—the majority of all these working-class New Yorkers take the subway every day to and from work.
Moreover, the capital improvements funded by congestion pricing would finally deliver high-quality service to the outer borough neighborhoods that are too-often left behind. Halting congestion pricing leaves a $15 billion hole in MTA’s capital budget—which means no Second Avenue Subway to West Harlem, no elevators or accessibility improvements in stations that don’t have them, no Interborough Express, and more.
And according to a new study [[link removed]] , halting congestion pricing could cost the City over 100,000 jobs—most of which would have been created by private companies that work with MTA to build new trains, buses and propulsion systems.
All of this is why I’m leading the charge alongside the nation’s foremost environmental law expert Michael Gerrard and a broad coalition of attorneys, advocates, and business leaders to explore litigation to resume this policy immediately.
Our transit system is a lifeline for our city’s economy—it's how people get to work, and go to places like restaurants and shows, and so many other businesses that drive our city. Like anything else, New York City cannot succeed without a sustainable funding stream for major repairs, modernization, and expansion projects.
Thanks,
Brad
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The Office of New York City Comptroller
Our mailing address is:
Office of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander
1 Centre Street
New York, NY 10007
United States
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