NYC Enacts $9 Congestion Toll Amid Subway Attacks; Critics Slam Hochul and MTA

Jan 5, 2025, 01:31 PM

New York City has officially implemented its $9 congestion pricing toll, aiming to reduce traffic in Manhattan and encourage the use of mass transit. The move has sparked backlash amid increasing concerns over subway safety, as attacks on commuters continue to rise, including a Metro-North rider stabbed in the chest after complaining about loud music. Critics argue that the congestion pricing, which charges drivers to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, will burden working-class commuters and force more people into a subway system plagued by crime. Union leaders, including those representing bus and subway supervisors, have slammed Governor Kathy Hochul and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman Janno Lieber for implementing the toll amid escalating violence on public transit. The MTA's latest $65 billion capital plan adds to the financial strain on taxpayers. Uber and Lyft, having spent millions lobbying for congestion pricing, stand to benefit significantly from the policy. The plan's exclusion of the Hugh L Carey Tunnel is expected to divert traffic to Brooklyn, increasing congestion in that borough. Firefighter unions warn that the toll could hurt emergency response times, potentially making the difference between life and death. Congestion pricing cameras were activated at midnight, marking the official start of the tolling system.