Rep. Torres Condemns Gov. Hochul’s Pause on Congestion Pricing, Cites Harm to Low-Income Commuters

U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres expressed strong disapproval of Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent decision to put congestion pricing in New York on an indefinite hiatus. The decision, according to Torres, not only undermines the trust of public transit riders but poses a specific threat to low-income New Yorkers of color, who disproportionately rely on public transportation for their daily needs.

Torres underscored the implications of halting the congestion pricing initiative, criticizing it as a betrayal of public trust and a decision that could potentially tarnish New York’s relationship with federal regulators. This is because the congestion pricing plan was anticipated to generate significant funds, crucial for upgrading and sustaining the city’s public transportation infrastructure, thus avoiding fare hikes and service cuts.

Moreover, Torres highlighted the broader ramifications of this pause, pointing out that the lack of investment in transit infrastructure would inevitably lead to higher fares and declining service quality over time. Such developments, he argued, would place undue financial and logistical burdens on working New Yorkers, especially those in communities primarily dependent on public transit. By delaying congestion pricing, the state risks increasing the strain on these vulnerable groups, exacerbating existing inequalities in the city’s transit ecosystem.