New York Governor Kathy Hochul is firmly standing behind the state's congestion pricing initiative for New York City, directly countering former President Donald Trump's attempts to halt the plan. During a recent appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation," Hochul discussed her White House meeting with Trump, emphasizing her commitment to addressing the city's traffic gridlock. She portrayed the meeting as non-confrontational, but made it clear she disagreed with the Trump administration's earlier decision to block the program, a move she attributed to a presidential tweet and characterized as an overreach of authority.
Implemented in January, the congestion pricing program aims to alleviate traffic congestion and bolster mass transit funding by levying a $9 toll on most vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district. The program's launch prompted a celebratory message from Trump on Truth Social, where he declared "Congestion Pricing is dead" and referred to himself as "the king." Hochul swiftly rebuked this statement, criticizing the monarchical allusion and reiterating her commitment to the program. She underscored the importance of representing the needs of New York residents and emphasized her willingness to pursue the matter through legal channels if necessary.
Despite the federal directive to halt the program, the tolls currently remain in effect due to a lawsuit filed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency responsible for public transit in New York City. The congestion pricing initiative has sparked debate within the city, with opposition primarily stemming from suburban commuters and residents of areas with limited subway access. Proponents, however, view it as a progressive strategy to improve traffic flow and reduce air pollution. Hochul expressed confidence in the state's legal position and her determination to see the program through.
