MTA Board won't salvage congestion pricing plan

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board of Directors will not salvage the MTA's Central Business District Tolling Program plan due to the state of New York’s pull of support. 

The program, informally referred to as congestion pricing, was paused on June 5 by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who decided “that implementing the planned congestion pricing system risked too many unintended consequences for New Yorkers at this time.” During her pre-recorded announcement, the governor noted she remains committed to the goals for the system, which includes reducing congestion and funding transit, but that she is concerned New York residents will not see the congestion pricing system as an encouragement to take transit but a reason to skip a trip to the city entirely. 

In February, MTA outlined several projects that would be put on hold if congestion pricing was not implemented, including acquisition of new railcars and locomotives, accessibility and station modernization projects, electric bus purchases and state of good repair projects. The plan was set to take effect June 30.  

In a joint statement, MTA Chief Financial Officer Kevin Willens and MTA General Counsel Paige Graves say the MTA cannot act until the congestion pricing program is approved by New York State, New York City and the federal government. 

“The MTA cannot award contracts that do not have a committed, identified funding source. Until there is a commitment for funding the balance of the 2020-2024 Capital Program, the MTA will need to reorganize the program to prioritize the most basic and urgent needs,” Willens and Graves said. 

Willens and Graves note the MTA Board will be evaluating what changes need to be made to the 2020-2024 Capital Program in the lead-up to this month’s MTA Board meeting.  

“Modernization and improvement projects like electric buses, accessible ADA stations and new signals will likely need to be deprioritized to protect and preserve the basic operation and functionality of this 100-plus year old system,” Willens and Graves said.