Congestion pricing proponents want to see New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in court. A group of local advocates filed a pair of lawsuits against the governor on Thursday, claiming she lacked the legal authority to order the MTA to pause the Manhattan tolling program last month. It was originally scheduled to launch on June 30 until Hochul made an eleventh-hour declaration that it would not move forward. — Gothamist
It seemed as though the long debated congestion pricing program was finally on its way following the Federal Highway Administration's approval of the program in June of last year.
One of the lawsuits argues that NY Governor Kathy Hochul's move to pause the program is "lawless" as it violates the 2019 state law that originally authorized congestion pricing. The other legal challenge claims that her decision works against the need for improved air quality and greenhouse gas reductions that are required by law.
As reported by Gothamist, many fear that this stoppage in the congestion pricing plan could lead to the cancellation of the initiative entirely. Critics also believe Hochul's move was a political decision to appease voters in regions against congestion pricing. The above lawsuits are expected to go before a judge in September.
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