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Gov. Hochul’s Decision to Unpause NYC Congestion Pricing Rekindles Debate

Even with modifications, the policy of charging commuters $9 when they enter Manhattan below 60th Street is a source of controversy.
Gov. Hochul’s Decision to Unpause NYC Congestion Pricing Rekindles Debate
Traffic moves below congestion pricing machines on 59th St. and Lexington Ave. in New York City on Nov. 14, 2024. Kent J. Edwards/Reuters
Michael Washburn
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NEW YORK CITY—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision last week to unpause congestion pricing, and the 12–1 vote by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board on Nov. 18 to approve the plan’s implementation in January, albeit with a lower toll, have sparked reactions both for and against the policy.

The governor paused the policy in June, acknowledging at a press conference that the $15 toll would be a burden for working families and citing the need to study alternatives.

Michael Washburn
Michael Washburn
Reporter
Michael Washburn is a New York-based reporter who covers U.S. and China-related topics for The Epoch Times. He has a background in legal and financial journalism, and also writes about arts and culture. Additionally, he is the host of the weekly podcast Reading the Globe. His books include “The Uprooted and Other Stories,” “When We're Grownups,” and “Stranger, Stranger.”