New York Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to announce the reintroduction of the congestion pricing toll, which will be set at a reduced rate, according to multiple sources. The toll will be priced at $9, which is $6 lower than the previously planned $15 fee, although two sources told Politico that the rate could rise in the future.

The governor’s office issued a statement late in the afternoon confirming that an announcement on congestion pricing would be made on Thursday. A spokesperson for Governor Hochul explained, “Governor Hochul paused congestion pricing because a daily $15 toll was too much for hard-working New Yorkers in this economic climate. Tomorrow, the Governor will announce the path forward to fund mass transit, declog our streets and improve public health by reducing air pollution.”

The reintroduction of the toll comes after the governor paused the program in June, causing frustration among transit advocates and some of Hochul’s key supporters. Her unexpected decision to halt tolls below 60th Street in Manhattan resulted in a $15 billion revenue gap for the MTA.

While President Joe Biden’s administration has been supportive of congestion pricing, President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the initiative. As time ticked down, there was increasing pressure on Hochul to reinstate the toll, especially since the plan requires approval from the Federal Highway Administration, which under Trump’s administration, seemed unlikely to approve.

The impact of the lower toll price on the MTA’s finances remains uncertain. In addition to congestion pricing, the MTA’s capital plan also places a $33 billion financial burden on the state.

Governor Hochul has hinted at the reintroduction of the toll since Friday, and on Tuesday, she stated that changes to the congestion pricing plan would be announced soon. Since June, she had kept the program on hold, citing concerns that the toll could impose a significant economic burden on commuters. However, POLITICO reported that political considerations also played a role in her decision, as the governor feared the toll might harm Democratic candidates in tight congressional races.

In New York, Democrats performed well in these key districts, despite the national losses experienced by their party. Critics of the toll now argue that the timing of the reintroduction, just one week after Election Day, reveals that Hochul’s decision was politically motivated. “If that reporting is true, then this very obviously reeks of politics,” said Orange County Democratic State Senator James Skoufis in an interview with Playbook on Monday.

{Matzav.com}