Environmentalists Urge Hochul to Rethink Congestion Pricing

Environmental groups led by Seattle-based Evergreen Action, have called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to "to reconsider her decision to indefinitely delay congestion pricing implementation and recommit to the 2019 legislation,” states their press release.

“We are sorely disappointed by your sudden decision to postpone this critical policy," states the four-paragraph letter [pdf] dated June 18. “This decision will have significant consequences for New York, and it will reverberate nationally.”

Nationwide fallout

Indeed, Hochul's unexpected action this month “has also renewed conversations among city and transportation leaders and experts about the future of transit systems around the country and how to pay for them,” reported the New York Times on June 16. 

“I’m trying to hold out a little bit of faith,” said Jarred Johnson, the executive director for TransitMatters, an advocacy group in Boston, where the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s budget deficit is expected to surpass $800 million over the next five years. “Certainly, New York City will be a huge setback.”

And on the opposite coast, “L.A. Metro officials had hoped to see NYC’s program in action to learn from the rollout,” wrote Ryan Fonseca for the Los Angeles Times’ Essential California newsletter on June 14.  

Now they’re taking notes on the backlash the program faced and the backpedaling that halted it — maybe forever.

Environmentalists hope for meeting

 Zack Budryk, energy and environment reporter for The Hill, reported on the environmental groups reaching out to Gov. Hochul on June  18 in the source article for this post.

“Your proposed indefinite delay poses a significant risk to achieving New York’s climate goals and the imperative to both reduce traffic congestion and ensure sustainable funding for more affordable and reliable transportation,” the five organizations’ leaders wrote. “We hope to meet with you soon to discuss a prompt resolution to the situation.”

Not all unhappy

However, Budryk noted that some groups were pleased with Hochul's reversal on the road pricing project.

Days after Hochul announced the delay, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association announced it would host a fundraiser for Hochul, but the governor announced she would not attend the event shortly after.

Hat tip to Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All campaign.