New York Governor Kathy Hochul has refused to implement a 25% increase in congestion tolls during holiday traffic. The move means the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) cannot charge more for its daily congestion tolls on "Gridlock Alert" days when traffic is particularly bad, which typically occurs around the UN General Assembly and during the holiday season.
The MTA has been relying on the increased revenue to upgrade its aging infrastructure, but with the governor's refusal, it risks not meeting its financing requirements. This decision came after Hochul lost her party's control in the 2024 election, amid concerns over high living costs. Critics argue that this measure could help alleviate traffic congestion and encourage more people to use public transportation.
However, pro-transit groups have criticized Hochul for not taking a bolder stance on addressing holiday traffic. They believe that a congestion surcharge should come with meaningful action to address the issue, rather than just a temporary price increase.
The governor's office stated that she is waiting until after her re-election campaign next year to implement any changes to the tolls. Analysts suggest that this decision might backfire as suburban voters may view it as an additional tax during peak travel seasons.
In related news, the MTA has announced plans to retire its MetroCard system in 2025 and increase the toll on some lines by $2 in 2031.
The MTA has been relying on the increased revenue to upgrade its aging infrastructure, but with the governor's refusal, it risks not meeting its financing requirements. This decision came after Hochul lost her party's control in the 2024 election, amid concerns over high living costs. Critics argue that this measure could help alleviate traffic congestion and encourage more people to use public transportation.
However, pro-transit groups have criticized Hochul for not taking a bolder stance on addressing holiday traffic. They believe that a congestion surcharge should come with meaningful action to address the issue, rather than just a temporary price increase.
The governor's office stated that she is waiting until after her re-election campaign next year to implement any changes to the tolls. Analysts suggest that this decision might backfire as suburban voters may view it as an additional tax during peak travel seasons.
In related news, the MTA has announced plans to retire its MetroCard system in 2025 and increase the toll on some lines by $2 in 2031.
... I think the governor is being super reasonable by not increasing tolls during holiday traffic, it's just a temporary measure to ease congestion 
. But at the same time, it feels like she's not doing enough to address the underlying issues with our transportation system 
. And what if her opponents use this as an excuse to say she's not taking action? 
I mean, isn't the point of a congestion surcharge to actually make a difference in traffic flow? 
What if some of it just gets lost in bureaucratic red tape? 
I guess what I'm saying is, I don't really know what's the right move here... maybe I'll stick to not knowing 
.
And now it's gonna be even harder for them to make ends meet 
. Suburban voters are already worried about taxes and stuff... does she really think this is a good idea? 
. dont get me wrong, i love Hochul and all, but this decision seems super half-baked to me 
.
, what's up with this? So the governor is all like "no congestion tolls" during holiday traffic and now they're gonna have a major financial problem 
. I'm just waiting for the next major disaster to hit NYC before things get really out of hand 
... I mean, what's the point of charging more for driving when they can't even provide decent public transportation? The MTA should be focusing on upgrading those aging infrastructure not relying on gimmicks like congestion tolls. And now they're waiting till after the re-election campaign to implement any changes? That just sounds like a bunch of politics 
... and who's gonna benefit from this? Not the commuters, that's for sure 
. Congestion tolls are literally the only thing that's gonna make NYC roads slightly less crazy during peak hours. It's like, what else is gonna cut through all the noise? They're not just gonna magically solve traffic with fancy new infrastructure or something (although, let's be real, a little more investment wouldn't hurt). The governor's just playing it safe 'cause she knows suburban voters aren't exactly thrilled about taxes 
so Kathy Hochul just refused to raise congestion tolls during holiday traffic which is like the ultimate stress fest for NYC commuters! 
i mean i get it she's trying not to screw with her re-election campaign but come on a 25% increase would've been a small price to pay for less gridlock 
and im kinda with them tbh i mean a congestion surcharge should come with some serious action plan not just a temp fix 
suburban voters r gonna freak out when they find out about the mta's plans to raise tolls even more by $2 in 2031 
it's like the universe is conspiring against us 
. It feels like they're just kicking the can down the road for now 
.
! like, can't they think of anything else to cut costs? 
. And now she's putting off any changes until after her re-election campaign? That's just politics as usual 
which is still months away. And let's be real, if they do decide to raise prices again, it's just gonna make people even more grumpy about public transportation. Can't they just find a sweet spot that balances the need for infrastructure upgrades with being all "we're not gonna nickel and dime you too much"? 
