Gov. Hochul kicked off the state’s budget process on Tuesday by doing exactly the opposite of what you do when you make a budget, instead ducking any responsibility for finding the $33 billion that is missing from the MTA’s capital plan … and growing it by a couple billion dollars on top of that.
The governor actually began the day by suggesting that the MTA was working on a revised capital plan to replace the one that state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie vetoed at the last possible moment on Christmas Eve.
“The MTA is developing an updated capital plan to propose to me and the legislature, and once we receive it, we will determine the best way to fund it,” the governor said while unveiling her Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
A spokesperson for the governor later cleaned up the remarks by saying that the MTA would resubmit its plan to members of the Capital Program Review Board, a relatively obscure panel made up of the governor, Assembly Speaker and state Senate Majority Leader that passes final judgment on every proposed MTA capital plan. Any one of the panelists can veto the plan.
The MTA does need to submit another capital plan for CPRB approval, but the agency can legally simply submit the same plan that was rejected by Heastie and Stewart-Cousins, who had not objected to any specific pieces of the plan, but threw it out entirely because of the $33-billion funding hole.
A confusing day upstate
Assembly and Senate leaders have maintained that they want to figure out how to find the money, but haven’t said anything about ripping up the plan and starting again. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday before Hochul’s budget press conference, Stewart-Cousins sounded like she was waiting for Hochul to make the first move in the budget process that’s typically dominated by whoever is in the governor’s mansion.
“We’ll see what she actually puts in,” Stewart-Cousins said when asked how the conversation around funding the MTA will begin. “Whoever starts [the conversation], we’ve gotta get an answer. Everybody knows that. We will figure that out.”
Hochul seems insistent that the answer comes from the Assembly and Senate. Blake Washington, the governor’s budget director, placed additional responsibility for plugging the budget hole directly at Heastie’s and Stewart-Cousins’s feet.
“What the governor was trying to say is that, obviously, we’re going to have to partner with the legislature and the MTA to land the plane on a new plan,” Washington said on Tuesday. “[The MTA] obviously are professional people, and they have to adapt to the realities before them. The realities are the state legislature vetoed their first plan, so it’s incumbent upon [the MTA] to do engagement and outreach with the legislature and say, ‘If it’s not this, what it what will it be? What works?’”
Hochul’s main offer so far for the capital plan has been to slash the amount of money both the state and city are supposed to give to it. In September, MTA Chief Financial Officer Kevin Willens said that the agency expected the state and city to chip in $4 billion each.
MTA
But Hochul’s budget only assumes the state and city will give $3 billion each, turning a $33-billion funding gap into a $35-billion funding gap with the stroke of a pen. Washington said that Hochul was just repeating the same exact amount from the last plan, one that was $17 billion cheaper, and that it’s up to the legislature to decide on more state and city aid.
“If you saw the budget requests that I get from state agencies, every state agency asks for certain things. Every state agency, every public authority, has a a certain set of expectations. The legislation. Naturally, the legislature is going to look at the financial plan, they’re going to say, ‘Well, you know, it’s $3 billion here. Can I plus up another billion dollars, or do I really need that for something else?’ That’s all part of the negotiation,” Washington said.
Hochul’s attempt to make this situation the legislature’s problem flies directly in the face of what she said about the capital plan over the last couple of months. At her November press conference, she announced her full support for the next five-year renovation plan.
“I’m telegraphing my support for the capital plan, to show my commitment to long-term investments that nobody else had the guts to do, because it is tough. It is tough to do this, and it’s so easy to kick the can down the road. It is so easy to do that, and it’s not something I’m prepared to do,” the governor said.
Hochul also gave herself props for supporting a theory of the capital plan in a Dec. 22 interview with ABC7.
“Governors before me have not had the courage to spend the money necessary to invest in new [train] cars, invest in the cameras, invest with accessibility for people with disabilities and moms with strollers,” she said.
Hochul and her administration’s attempt to use the CPRB veto as a cudgel against state legislators could be read as smart politics, but advocates pointed out that this predictable and exhausting staring contest only winds up hurting people who actually ride the bus and train.
“This is an abdication of the governor’s responsibility to millions of Downstate transit riders and puts the engine of the state economy at risk,” Reinvent Albany said in a review of Hochul’s budget. “The governor is playing a dangerous game of political chicken with the legislature to see who will be the grown-up in Albany.”
Budget or Budge It? Gov. Hochul Continues Dawdling on the MTA Capital Plan
Governor Kathy Hochul has been facing criticism for her slow progress on approving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) capital plan. The MTA’s capital plan outlines crucial investments in infrastructure, equipment, and technology to improve the transit system for millions of New Yorkers.
With the current plan set to expire at the end of the year, Governor Hochul’s indecision is causing concern among transit advocates and riders alike. The delay in approving the plan could lead to delays in critical projects, maintenance issues, and ultimately a decline in the quality of service for MTA riders.
While Governor Hochul has expressed support for the MTA and its capital plan, many are urging her to take swift action in approving the necessary funding. The longer the delay, the more costly and detrimental the consequences could be for the transit system and its riders.
It’s time for Governor Hochul to make a decision – will she stick to the budget and prioritize the MTA’s capital plan, or will she continue to budge on this critical issue? The future of New York’s transit system hangs in the balance.
New York is keeping secret its plan for new taxes and fees to fund $33 billion for the flailing Metropolitan Transportation Authority even as Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to propose her budget this week.
Hochul continues to refuse to publicly outline ideas to fill the massive hole in the MTA’s $68 billion five-year capital plan as sources said she’s highly unlikely to include a proposal in her executive budget proposal set to be released Tuesday.
Gov. Kathy Hochul is not expected to release a proposal to cover a $33 billion hole in the MTA’s capital plan as part of her executive budget to be released Tuesday. Matthew McDermott
Instead, the governor is continuing to point the figer at state legislative leaders who refused to sign onto the massively underfunded plan.
“That’s their prerogative,” Hochul told CBS News’ Marcia Kramer Sunday morning.
“And now they’ll go back and put together the plan that they want me to look at. Obviously, we need to get something done,” the governor added.
The leaders – Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) – have refused to fire back at Hochul, as top Democrats have been more keen to negotiating out of eyes of taxpayers.
“It’s a budget. We’ll figure it out,” Heastie told reporters last week when asked if he thinks the ball is in their court to propose a plan.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins say they expect tax or fee increases will be on the table as part of talks over how to fill a revenue hole in the MTA’s capital plan budget. Hans Pennink
Heastie and Stewart-Cousins have admitted taxes and fees are going to be part of the discussion to fill the revenue hole, something Hochul’s budget director said as early as November.
“I assume raising revenue will absolutely be on the table,” Heastie told Spectrum News last week.
With all sides refusing to blink publicly to float a proposal to raise revenue, those negotiations are almost certain to be worked out behind closed doors and outside the regular budget process.
“It’s cynical and it’s kind of a projection of fearfulness rather than strength,” said John Kaehny, executive director of good government group Reinvent Albany.
“It’s just dumb cynical gamesmanship I think ultimately will bite the governor since the public just doesn’t like that,” Kaehny continued.
The uncertainty comes as Hochul touts a slew proposals including many meant to address New York’s lack of “affordability” and address violence in the subways.
Hochul is floating billions of dollars of new spending that likely to jack up the overall cost of the state budget. Paul Martinka
One of those proposals includes sending out $3 billion worth of checks to low and middle income New Yorkers on top of income tax cuts, increased benefits for families with young kids and grants to prop up childcare centers.
Another proposal would spend $77 million to pad overtime to put 300 NYPD cops on subway trains overnight and another 750 on platforms.
On top of that, state spending on school aid and Medicaid is expected to balloon between $1 billion and $2 billion.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber arrives for a press conference on Jan. 10. Stephen Yang
The Citizen Budget Commission’s Patrick Orecki estimates such proposals could ramp up spending by another $5-$6 billion without cuts elsewhere.
“On one hand Hochul wants to be the owner of the subway that floods them with police and spends billions of dollars in police overtime, but on the other she doesn’t want to be the governor that has to find new revenue for the capital plan,” Kaehny said. “I mean it’s just massively inconsistent and irritating and alienate public supporters of the MTA and transit.”
Individual legislators have been more apt to call for the governor to be more forthcoming.
“Ideally,” Deputy Senate Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) said when asked if the governor should roll out a proposal publicly.
“But the more important thing is that we get it done,” Gianaris added.
New York’s plan to raise $33B for MTA in taxes, fees kept secret as Hochul passes buck to pols
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has remained tight-lipped about the state’s plan to raise $33 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) through taxes and fees. In a recent press conference, Hochul deflected questions about the specifics of the plan, instead passing the responsibility to state lawmakers.
The MTA, which operates New York City’s subway and bus system, has been facing financial struggles in recent years, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to address the agency’s funding shortfall, the state has proposed a series of new taxes and fees, including a potential congestion pricing scheme for drivers entering Manhattan.
However, details about the plan have been kept under wraps, raising concerns among New Yorkers about how the additional revenue will be raised and who will bear the brunt of the costs. Critics have also raised questions about the lack of transparency surrounding the plan, with some accusing Hochul of passing the buck to state lawmakers rather than taking responsibility for the decision.
As the state continues to grapple with the implications of the plan, many are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the decision-making process. With billions of dollars at stake, New Yorkers are demanding answers about how the MTA will be funded and what impact it will have on residents across the state.
An outraged NYC stranger wasted no time outsmarting the MTA as he hopped over a subway turnstile while showing little regard for the newly installed spikes designed to deter fare evaders on Thursday night.
The unidentified subway rider easily vaulted over the metal gate less than 36 hours after they were placed at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue station, a Post photographer captured.
A metal sheet with sharp edges along the top and side was installed between each gate entrance at the station.
An NYC straphanger wasted no time in exploiting the MTA’s newly placed spikes at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue station on Jan. 16, 2025. Christopher SadowskiThe unidentified subway rider easily vaulted over the metal gate less than 36 hours after the devices were placed. Christopher Sadowski
The man was caught off guard by the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s latest crackdown attempt, but it didn’t stop him from exploiting the flaws in the transit authority’s design.
“Oh, so now I gotta jump over it? Okay, I don’t give a f–k, I’ll jump over it,” a Post photographer overheard the man say.
The careless commuter — wearing a sweatshirt highlighting the animated show “Rick and Morty” — placed his left foot on the bottom ridge of the gate and propelled himself up with his right hand.
The man was caught off guard by the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s latest crackdown attempt, but it didn’t stop him from exploiting the flaws in the transit authority’s design. Christopher SadowskiThe careless commuter – wearing a sweatshirt highlighting the animated show “Rick and Morty” – placed his left foot on the bottom ridge of the gate and propelled himself up with his right hand. Christopher Sadowski
Placing his left hand on the metal spikes, the man jumped over the pole of the turnstile, clearing the gate and walking free to a train with no one stopping him.
The MTA — which installed the new apparatuses at the station that borders the Midtown and the Upper East Side Wednesday — did not reveal the cost for the spiky metal sheets.
It was unknown if other subway stops would be getting similar devices.
A metal sheet with sharp edges along the top and side was installed between each gate entrance at the station. Christopher SadowskiThe man placed his left hand on the metal spikes before hopping over the turnstiles. Christopher Sadowski
Several commuters who frequent the station — which services the N, R, W, 4, 5 and 6 lines — were not thrilled with the new gate feature.
“I don’t think it’s going to prevent anyone from jumping the turnstiles,” Veronica Pisani, 40, told The Post Wednesday.
Pisani, a building manager who lives in the Fordham area of the Bronx, called the hardware “silly and foolish” and a waste of money.
“I see fare evasion all the time. People will find a way. I just don’t really think this is [an effective] preventative measure,” she said.
Fare evasion costs the MTA roughly $500 million annually. The transit giant has been trying for years to recover the lost revenue.
It isn’t the first time an anti-fare evasion strategy was beaten.
The man cleared the turnstile and was free to get on any train with no one stopping him. Christopher SadowskiThe apparatuses were installed at the 59th Street/Lexington Avenue station on Jan. 15, 2025. Christopher Sadowski
Last December the MTA OK’d a fare hike to $3 per swipe, 10 cents above the current $2.90 per swipe, as it spent nearly $1.3 billion on 435 new subway cars.
“This is a good deal,” MTA chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said of the price hike, after approving a budget plan that anticipates the 4% hike in fares from the current by the second half of 2025.
In a daring stunt that left fellow commuters in awe, a NYC subway straphanger managed to jump over the new turnstile spikes installed by the MTA at a Manhattan station.
Eyewitnesses reported that the individual, described as a young man in his 20s, approached the turnstile with confidence before effortlessly leaping over the spikes and landing on the other side without breaking a sweat.
Photos and videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, with many praising the straphanger for his agility and quick thinking. Some even joked that he should consider joining the Olympics as a high jumper.
While the MTA has yet to comment on the incident, it has sparked a debate among New Yorkers about the effectiveness of the new turnstile spikes in deterring fare evasion.
Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is for sure – this subway straphanger definitely knows how to make an entrance.
New Yorkers taking the subway may soon see spikey new additions to the turnstile gates.
The MTA said newly installed sharp metal barriers are meant to deter turnstile jumpers. The installation is part of the city’s plan to prevent fare evasion.
As of now, the MTA said the subway spikes have been installed at the 59th Street-Lexington Avenue and 42nd Street-Times Square subway stations.
News 4
But videos appeared on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week, showing a number of masked individuals easily hoping over the turnstiles and avoiding the spikes — and the fare.
Back in 2022, the MTA estimated fare and toll evasion cost the transit agency nearly $700 million.
When reached for comment Saturday, a spokesperson directed NBC New York to a press release from May 2024 detailing the “turnstile fin” pilot project — one of many approaches to addressing what the agency considers a costly and systemic problem.
The “fin” installation isn’t the only method deployed to try and curb straphangers beating the fare. The MTA has been widely using “gate guards,” who are positioned at the emergency exit gates in an effort to stop people from tailgating inside the station as riders exit.
The move comes as riders brace for another price hike.
At the end of last year, the MTA approved his bi-yearly fare increase for subway riders. The current fare of $2.90 is expected to jump to at least $3 this coming August.
The last increase, in 2023, saw the fare jump 15 cents, from $2.75 to the current rate of $2.90.
MTA subway stations get metal fins in latest bid to curb fare evasion – NBC New York
In a new effort to crack down on fare evasion, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has installed metal fins in subway stations across New York City. These metal barriers are designed to prevent passengers from entering through emergency exits or jumping over turnstiles without paying.
The MTA has been struggling to combat fare evasion, which costs the agency millions of dollars in lost revenue each year. In response, they have implemented various measures, including increased police presence and the installation of new technology such as fare gates and turnstiles.
The metal fins are the latest tool in the MTA’s arsenal against fare evasion. The sharp metal protrusions are meant to deter passengers from attempting to bypass the fare gates, while still allowing for emergency exits in case of an evacuation.
While some critics have raised concerns about the potential dangers of the metal fins, the MTA insists that they are a necessary step to protect their revenue and ensure a fair system for all passengers.
So far, the metal fins have been installed in several subway stations throughout the city, with plans to expand to more locations in the future. The MTA hopes that these new measures will help to reduce fare evasion and improve overall safety and security for riders.
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MTA subway stations, metal fins, fare evasion, NYC subway, MTA news, public transportation, subway security, MTA fare enforcement, NYC news, transit system, urban infrastructure.
Congestion pricing will introduce tolls for motorists traveling south of 60th Street in Manhattan.
(Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Queens Council Members Robert Holden, Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino have called on the MTA to pause congestion pricing until a number of ongoing lawsuits are resolved.
The Queens council members belong to the New York City Council’s Common Sense Caucus, which issued a joint statement on Monday following a ruling from federal Judge Leo Gordon.
The Common Sense Caucus, co-chaired by Holden and Joseph Borelli, includes Kristy Marmorato, Vickie Paladino, Joann Ariola, Susan Zhuang, Kalman Yeger, Inna Vernikov and David Carr. The group focuses on advocating for practical policies and addressing quality-of-life issues affecting New Yorkers across the city.
Judge Gordon issued a 72-page ruling rejecting most of New Jersey State’s complaints about congestion pricing, which is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 5.
Gordon, however, did rule that some of the potential impacts of congestion pricing on New Jersey communities required further study, especially concerns over how the toll would impact air quality in New Jersey.
Gordon set a deadline of Jan. 17 for New York and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to respond to concerns over the environmental impacts of congestion pricing, with the toll scheduled to go into effect on Sunday.
New York lawmakers and the MTA have insisted that they can move ahead with the Jan. 5 start date despite Gordon’s ruling, but the Common Sense Caucus, co-chaired by Holden, has called for the MTA board to pause the plan while legal challenges remain ongoing.
“With several legal cases and injunctions still pending, moving forward with congestion pricing on January 5th would be reckless and presents significant complications for the state, including potential court-mandated refunds,” the Common Sense Caucus said in a joint statement. “We urge the MTA Board to convene immediately and vote to pause congestion pricing before further damage is done.”
In his ruling, Gordon ordered federal and MTA officials to explain why they had allocated more money to mitigate the impact of additional traffic caused by congestion pricing in the Bronx than they had in New Jersey. He also requested more details about mitigation plans for additional traffic.
Randy Mastro, an attorney representing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, said Gordon’s ruling means that congestion pricing cannot go ahead as scheduled on Jan. 5.
He said the ruling showed that the FHWA acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” in approving the MTA’s plan and that the FHWA decision provided no rational explanation of mitigation commitments.
Mastro further contended that New York changed its tolling scheme significantly after it gained federal approval and that more consideration is needed before the current congestion pricing proposal may take effect.
“New Jersey remains firmly opposed to any attempt to force through a congestion pricing proposal in the final weeks of the Biden Administration,” Mastro said in a statement. “There could not be a worse time to impose a new $9 toll, escalating over time to $15, on individuals who are traveling into downtown Manhattan for work, school, or leisure.”
Mastro argued that Gordon’s ruling has prohibited the MTA from moving ahead with the Jan. 5 start date by effectively rescinding federal approvals. Mastro has filed a motion seeking clarification from Gordon over the ruling, which did not explicitly state whether the plan could move forward on Jan. 5 or not. He has also filed a motion seeking a temporary restraining order on congestion pricing.
Gordon is set to host a hearing on the issues on Friday afternoon.
However, MTA CEO Janno Lieber said Gordon’s ruling does not interfere with the MTA’s plan to implement congestion pricing on Jan. 5, stating that the judge agreed with New York on “virtually every issue.”
“Most importantly, the decision does not interfere with the program’s scheduled implementation this coming Sunday, Jan. 5,” Lieber said in a statement.
Lieber added that the MTA is confident that the FHWA has taken sufficient action to address Gordon’s concerns over mitigation in New Jersey.
“We’re confident that the subsequent Federal actions, including the approval of the revised, reduced toll rates, did put those issues to rest,” Lieber said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul also welcomed Gordon’s ruling, stating that it enabled congestion pricing to take effect on Jan. 5 as scheduled.
“Despite the best efforts of the State of New Jersey trying to thwart New York’s ability to reduce congestion on our streets while making long-overdue investments in public transit, our position has prevailed in court on nearly every issue. This is a massive win for commuters in both New York and New Jersey,” Hochul said in a statement.
“Commuters deserve a world-class transit system that’s safe, efficient and modern. Local residents deserve clean air and safe streets. Drivers deserve less congestion and reduced traffic. This is what we will begin to achieve — at a lower cost to drivers — when congestion pricing begins in January.”
Holden and Common Sense Caucus urge MTA to address legal challenges before tolls begin Jan. 5 – QNS
As the deadline for the implementation of tolls on the East River bridges approaches, Councilman Robert Holden and the Common Sense Caucus are calling on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to address legal challenges before moving forward.
Holden and the caucus have raised concerns about the legality of the tolls, citing potential violations of state law and the New York State Constitution. They argue that the MTA must address these legal challenges before imposing tolls on New York City residents.
In a statement, Holden said, “It is critical that the MTA address these legal challenges before moving forward with tolls on the East River bridges. We cannot allow the MTA to ignore the law and impose tolls on New Yorkers without proper legal justification.”
The Common Sense Caucus has also expressed concerns about the potential impact of tolls on working-class New Yorkers, who may face increased financial burdens as a result of the new fees. They are calling on the MTA to consider alternative funding sources that do not unfairly burden low-income residents.
The MTA has yet to respond to Holden and the caucus’s concerns, but time is running out as the tolls are set to begin on Jan. 5. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as this issue develops.
NEW JERSEY — After New York state said it would move ahead with implementing congestion pricing on Jan. 5 following a judge’s ruling Monday evening, New Jersey fired back, saying the MTA can’t move forward with the plan.
In the opinion, Judge Leo Gordon rejected most of New Jersey’s complaints about the impact of the pricing scheme, but said some of the effects on New Jersey communities merited further study, specifically air quality concerns.
After the ruling, New York state said they could move ahead with the start date despite the opinion, but New Jersey said later Monday evening not so fast.
“We welcome the court’s ruling today in the congestion pricing lawsuit. Because of New Jersey’s litigation, the judge has ordered a remand, and the MTA therefore cannot proceed with implementing the current congestion pricing proposal on January 5, 2025,” according to a statement from Attorney for the State of New Jersey Randy Mastro.
The judge set a deadline of Jan. 17 for New York to respond to concerns. However, congestion pricing – a program to charge drivers heading into the heart of Manhattan – is scheduled to begin on Jan. 5.
The opinion said, in part: “Accordingly, the court will remand this issue for further explanation, and if appropriate, reconsideration of the rationale providing for differing levels of mitigation commitments for the Bronx as compared to potentially significantly affected areas in New Jersey and the ultimate mitigation determination.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement the agency was full speed ahead on implementation.
“We’re gratified that on virtually every issue, Judge Gordon agreed with the New York federal court and rejected New Jersey’s claim that the Environmental Assessment approved 18 months ago was deficient. Most important, the decision does not interfere with the program’s scheduled implementation this coming Sunday, January 5,” Lieber said.
The statement continued: “On the two remaining issues where the Judge requested that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provide additional data – information that was not yet before the Court in this proceeding — we’re confident that the subsequent Federal actions, including the approval of the revised, reduced toll rates, did put those issues to rest.”
This could be met with a legal challenge from New Jersey officials, who the judge has agreed with in part.
Indeed, New Jersey’s Mastro said Monday:
“The judge determined that the Federal Highway Administration acted arbitrarily and capriciously in approving the MTA’s plan, that the FHWA’s decision provided no rational explanation of mitigation commitments, that New York changed its tolling scheme significantly after it gained federal approval, and that more consideration is needed before the current congestion pricing proposal may take effect.”
Mastro said New Jersey remained “firmly opposed to any attempt to force through a congestion pricing proposal in the final weeks of the Biden Administration.”
At issue is the potential environmental impact on North Jersey, when an onslaught of drivers will take the George Washington Bridge to avoid paying the new toll.
“By remanding this case, the judge has actually confirmed what we’ve thought all along. This is going to cause a massive amount of cancer causing pollution in northern New Jersey. It’s going to mess up traffic further in the region,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer told Eyewitness News.
What the court’s decision does not address is the January 5th start date which has Governor Kathy Hochul taking a victory lap too.
In a written statement it part reads, ” Despite the best efforts of the State of New Jersey trying to thwart New York’s ability to reduce congestion on our streets while making long-overdue investments in public transit, our position has prevailed in court on nearly every issue. This is a massive win for commuters in both New York and New Jersey.”
“I think that we’ve gotten the last piece of good news for the puzzle that we need to start on January 5th” said Lisa Daglian, Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA.
Now the Federal Highway Administration has until January 17th to provide more details about mitigation to any environmental effects and New York and New Jersey have until January 29th to respond to the updated report.
So what does that mean for drivers come Sunday?
“There will be different responses that will that will have to happen over some time, but it will have started,” Daglian said.
What is clear is that both New York and New Jersey feel empowered by this ruling, and neither side is backing down.
In a recent ruling, a New Jersey judge has determined that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) cannot implement congestion pricing tolls on Sundays. This decision comes after months of debate and legal battles surrounding the controversial tolling system.
The congestion pricing plan, which was approved by New York state legislators in 2019, aimed to reduce traffic and raise revenue for public transportation by charging drivers a fee to enter certain parts of Manhattan during peak hours. However, opponents argued that the tolls would disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities.
The New Jersey judge’s opinion stated that implementing tolls on Sundays would be unfair to drivers who rely on their cars for religious or personal reasons on the weekends. The ruling has put a major roadblock in the MTA’s plans to roll out congestion pricing, which was set to begin in 2023.
The MTA has expressed disappointment in the ruling and has vowed to fight it in court. They argue that congestion pricing is necessary to fund much-needed improvements to the city’s public transportation system.
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how this ruling will impact the future of congestion pricing in New York City. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
With just days to go before the nation’s first congestion toll begins in New York City, the pricing plan may have passed its final hurdle in a ruling from a U.S. district court who heard a suit from the state of New Jersey on environmental grounds, according to the MTA. But an attorney for the state of New Jersey says not so fast.
While the judge ruled the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will need to weigh in, the MTA tells NBC New York it has the green light to proceed with the start of congestion pricing this weekend saying the judge’s questions with the plan do not rise to the level of an injunction.
New York’s congestion pricing law is set to begin seconds past midnight on Jan. 5th. Under the congestion pricing plan, cars would pay a peak fee of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Off-peak would be a 75% discount — $2.25.
The lawsuit from New Jersey was for tens of millions of dollars, predicting environmental harm if traffic gets worse on the other side of the river.
The judge’s ruling came in a 72-page decision issued Monday evening.
“We’re gratified that on virtually every issue, Judge Gordon agreed with the New York federal court and rejected New Jersey’s claim that the Environmental Assessment approved 18 months ago was deficient,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. Most important, the decision does not interfere with the program’s scheduled implementation this coming Sunday, January 5.”
In the decision, the judge said because of the questions for the federal government, “this matter is remanded to the FHWA until January 17, 2025 for the FHWA to take actions in conformity with this Opinion.”
For the state of New Jersey, that’s enough to hold off on starting congestion pricing, despite how the MTA is reading the ruling.
“We welcome the court’s ruling today in the congestion pricing lawsuit. Because of New Jersey’s litigation, the judge has ordered a remand, and the MTA therefore cannot proceed with implementing the current congestion pricing proposal on January 5, 2025,” said attorney Randy Mastro, who represents New Jersey.
Mastro said New Jersey remains “firmly opposed” to implementation of congestion pricing.
In response to New Jersey’s lawsuit, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has said she offered money to settle it — but no deal was reached.
“We’ve made multiple offers to settle this lawsuit, very generous offers,” Hochul said previously.
After the ruling, Hochul said congestion pricing will start this weekend as planned.
“Despite the best efforts of the State of New Jersey trying to thwart New York’s ability to reduce congestion on our streets while making long-overdue investments in public transit, our position has prevailed in court on nearly every issue. This is a massive win for commuters in both New York and New Jersey,” the governor of New York said in a statement.
The MTA has predicted there would be 10% fewer cars and trucks after the toll begins.
MTA executives have promised that billions of dollars raised by congestion pricing will pay to modernize the system all across the region.
A week before the New Jersey ruling, a federal judge in New York denied a different suit trying to pause the start of congestion pricing.
Responding to a lawsuit from the United Federation of Teachers, the Trucking Association of New York and Manhattan residents, Judge Lewis Liman issued a 111-page ruling in that case denying a request for a temporary injunction.
“Plaintiffs fail to establish a likelihood of success on the merits for any claim,” the judge wrote in his conclusion.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has been a hot topic in recent news, with ongoing debates about fare hikes, service improvements, and infrastructure upgrades. NBC New York has been closely covering the developments and controversies surrounding the MTA, providing in-depth analysis and reporting on how these changes will impact commuters and residents across the city.
In this post, we will delve into the latest stories and updates from NBC New York regarding the MTA, including exclusive interviews with MTA officials, expert opinions on the future of public transportation in New York City, and firsthand accounts from commuters affected by delays and disruptions.
Stay tuned as we bring you the most up-to-date information on the MTA and how it is shaping the daily lives of New Yorkers. Let NBC New York be your trusted source for all things MTA-related.
