Governor Hochul Faces Backlash Over $9 Congestion Toll and Potential New Taxes

New York's MTA grapples with a $33 billion budget gap as critics decry rising costs for commuters and businesses.

New York's new $9 congestion toll, implemented in Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours, aims to reduce traffic and fund the MTA but has sparked widespread criticism from commuters and businesses.
Governor Kathy Hochul is considering additional revenue measures, including a potential increase in the payroll mobility tax, to address the MTA's $33 billion funding shortfall for its $68 billion capital plan.
Critics argue that the congestion toll and proposed taxes disproportionately burden working-class residents and businesses, with some warning of negative economic impacts and reduced affordability in the state.
Firefighter and EMT unions, along with New Jersey commuters and Manhattan residents, have raised concerns about the toll's potential effects on emergency response times and financial strain on drivers and taxpayers.
Governor Hochul has yet to release a detailed public plan to address the funding gap, leaving the legislature and closed-door negotiations to determine the next steps.