The following statement can be attributed to Lisa Daglian, Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA (PCAC):
“Today, Governor Hochul chose bold leadership that will benefit millions of New Yorkers. We thank her for taking this once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our environment, streets, and transit.
“With today’s announcement unpausing congestion pricing, Governor Hochul demonstrated her commitment to the millions of New Yorkers who rely on transit every day – and who will depend on it for decades to come.
“In announcing the new tolling structure, the Governor is charting a course towards cleaner air, less traffic, and essential funding for critical investments in subways, buses, the LIRR, Metro-North, and Staten Island Railway. With the pause unpaused, riders around the region will finally see billions of dollars invested in our trains, buses, and stations. We’ll see less congestion, meaning faster emergency response times and bus speeds, and safe streets for all. From investments in increased service to more accessible stations to the start of important mitigation programs, this plan delivers for the New Yorkers.
“The Governor’s announcement echoes her ongoing message of the importance of affordability for New Yorkers. It’s critical that focus includes more equitable access to affordable transit. It’s particularly important because transit riders, who make up nearly 90% of the commuters entering the Central Business District, have household incomes that are on average less than half that of drivers. Our ‘Rider-First Fare Agenda’ would complement congestion pricing by offering incentives to New Yorkers who live in subway deserts and ‘two-fare zones’ — including too many low-income New Yorkers whose fastest trip may run through their backyard, but is so far out of reach.
“We appreciate that the Governor is proactively looking at approaches to filling the gap in the MTA’s FY25-29 Capital Plan, and will share our analysis as it becomes available. We look forward to working with Albany to fund the critical projects the program contains while making up for any shortfall in funding for the FY20-24 Plan created by the lower tolling structure.
“As we celebrate today’s milestone and look forward to the historic first day of tolling, we also look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to ensure that all New Yorkers have equitable access to affordable transit.”