NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Transit and environmental advocacy groups in New York filed lawsuits Thursday challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul's a plan to reduce traffic and raise billions for the city's ailing subway system through a new toll on Manhattan drivers.
The groups argue in two separate state Supreme Court suits that the Democrat violated the state鈥檚 laws and constitution when she indefinitely paused the fee, citing economic concerns.
The program, which was , would have imposed on drivers entering the core of Manhattan a toll of about $15, depending on vehicle type. The fee was projected to generate some $1 billion annually for transit improvements.
The Riders Alliance, the Sierra Club and the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, , said Hochul's decision violated the part of the state constitution that guarantees New Yorkers the right to 鈥渃lean air and water, and a healthful environment.鈥�
鈥淭he people of New York City deserve to breathe," the lawsuit states.
The City Club of New York, , called Hochul's decision 鈥渜uite literally, lawless鈥� and lacking 鈥渁ny basis in the law as democratically enacted.鈥�
It noted the toll had been approved by state lawmakers and signed into law by her predecessor, former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in 2019, following decades of advocacy and public debate.
鈥淎s powerful as a governor is, this Governor has no legal authority 鈥� none 鈥� to direct the Metropolitan Transportation Authority" to pause congestion pricing, the group stated in the suit.
Hochul, through a spokesperson, dismissed the lawsuits as political posturing.
鈥淕et in line,鈥� spokesperson Maggie Halley said in an email. 鈥淭here are now 11 separate congestion pricing lawsuits filed by groups trying to weaponize the judicial system to score political points, but Governor Hochul remains focused on what matters: funding transit, reducing congestion, and protecting working New Yorkers.鈥�
Groups ranging from a public teachers union to New Jersey residents and local truckers seeking to block it.
Hochul has maintained her decision was driven by economic concerns and conversations with everyday New Yorkers.
She鈥檚 also suggested to make up for the billions of dollars in lost revenue for transit, a proposal lawmakers have rejected.
City Comptroller Brad Lander, who joined the groups in announcing the lawsuits Thursday, said New Yorkers will experience 鈥渋ncreasing service cuts, gridlock, air quality alerts, and inaccessible stations鈥� if the governor's decision is allowed to stand.
Congestion pricing a 鈥渨in-win-win" for New Yorkers because it would provide much needed revenue to make public transit 鈥渇aster, more reliable and accessible鈥� while also reducing 鈥渃ostly gridlock, carbon emissions, deadly collisions and toxic air pollution," added Betsy Plum, executive director of the Riders Alliance.
Before her sudden about-face, Hochul had been a staunch advocate for the toll, even describing it as 鈥渢ransformative."
The MTA had also already installed cameras, sensors and license plate readers for the program, and reached a contract worth more than $500 million with a private vendor to operate the tolling infrastructure.
Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press
