New York Gov. Hochul has 75 days to reinstate the stalled program or risk losing billions in funding for the city’s aging transportation infrastructure and transit system.
Supporters of New York City’s shelved congestion pricing plan are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to let the program move forward before President-Elect Trump’s inauguration, when Trump has promised he would kill the program.
“Hochul's decision to pause the tolls ended up not even serving her political goals, with experts saying the issue barely registered in Tuesday's vote, even as Democrats won three Republican-held suburban congressional seats,” writes Dave Colon in Streetsblog NYC.
The governor could still revive the plan in time to get it passed before January. As Colon reminds readers, the program would be a major funding source for transportation and infrastructure projects. “The MTA paused $16 billion worth of capital projects this summer because it had no way to pay for them once Hochul paused the tolls.”
According to Colon, “It's unclear whether Hochul intends to keep congestion pricing or try to find major project funding for the MTA elsewhere — a tricky proposition with the also partially unfunded MTA 2025-29 capital plan on the horizon.”
FULL STORY: NO URGENCY: With the Clock Ticking, Hochul Twiddles Thumbs on Congestion Pricing
Judge Extends NYC Congestion Pricing Through at Least June 9
A federal judge halted the Trump administration’s effort to kill the program, which remains in limbo as a lawsuit filed by the MTA moves forward.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
USDOT Threatens to Pull New York Highway Funding
The Trump administration wants the state to kill New York City’s congestion pricing program despite its demonstrated success.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.
What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.
Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie