After decades of delays and many hard-fought attempts to stop it, New York City’s congestion pricing program has finally begun.
But even now, the unpopular program could still be stopped by its many detractors — including President-elect Donald J. Trump, whose electoral victory is being certified on Monday. Mr. Trump has promised to end it permanently once he takes office on Jan. 20, though his options are limited now that the plan is underway.
More than half of New York State voters who responded to a Siena College survey in December opposed the program.
Congestion pricing has faced lawsuits from opponents at least 10 times in recent years, including by the State of New Jersey; Vito J. Fossella, the Staten Island borough president; and the United Federation of Teachers. Plaintiffs in those cases have argued that the new tolls would be a burden for commuters, hurt small businesses, and shift traffic and pollution to other parts of the city and region — including to disadvantaged communities like the South Bronx.
The plan has already been stopped once by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who blocked it just weeks before its original start date in June, citing concerns that the new tolls could harm New York City’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
The program cleared a major legal hurdle on Friday just before it went into effect, when a federal judge denied New Jersey’s emergency request to stop it. In recent weeks, federal judges have ruled against several other efforts to stop the plan.
But while congestion pricing has now started, that doesn’t mean the legal battles are over. Opponents say they will continue to fight it in the courts.
“Our lawsuit continues because the congestion pricing plan that is now in effect puts the financial and environmental burden on communities least able to pay, and the last to see improved air quality or less congestion,” Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said in a statement over the weekend.
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