STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 A basement gym at a Manhattan YMCA served as the celebration venue Monday for the 1-year anniversary of what officials say has been a generational improvement in transportation.<\/p>\n
Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) head Janno Lieber led the afternoon press conference for congestion pricing, which they say has raised $550 million for the agency, led to increased ridership and improved transit times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results are in and it is clear that in just one year, congestion pricing has been an unprecedented success in New York,\u201d Hochul said. \u201cBy every measure, this program has met or exceeded expectations: traffic and gridlock are down substantially, people are moving faster, air quality is improved, streets are safer and our economy is stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
Congestion pricing, which went into effect January 2025, uses toll cameras to charge drivers a fee to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Proponents have touted it as a way to improve air quality, reduce congestion, and raise funds for the MTA.<\/p>\n
The agency is using the money raised from the toll to fund various projects, from the Second Avenue Subway to signal upgrades and new power substations on the Staten Island Railway<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite Monday\u2019s victory lap, not everyone in the five boroughs has met the tolling policy with rave reviews, particularly among Staten Island\u2019s political class.<\/p>\n Borough President Vito Fossella, who has led one of several thus-far unsuccessful lawsuits against the program, issued a heavily-sarcastic response to the Monday celebration.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, yes\u2014happy one-year AnniMISERY to New York\u2019s bold experiment in making everyday life just a little more expensive and infuriating! Staten Island sends its warmest non-regards, still not throwing any parades for the privilege of paying extra to ride subway trains that we do not have, or enjoying the brand-new \u2018triple toll tango\u2019 just to drive into Manhattan,\u201c the borough president said. \u201dNothing says \u2018progress\u2019 like an abusive relationship where the government keeps taking your money and giving you attitude in return. Here\u2019s to many more years of this totally fair (NOT) super-popular love story!”<\/p>\n Later this month, the MTA and President Donald Trump\u2019s administration will return to federal court for the latest hearing in the executive branch\u2019s ongoing congestion pricing lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n