WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA - New York NY - New York City NYC - THE CITY - Congestion pricing is back.

 

Dear New Yorkers,

Congestion pricing is back — and scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 5, 2025.

Five months after she abruptly put the plan on pause, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new vision for the Manhattan vehicle-tolling program yesterday.

The original plan, which was designed to cut congestion and fund billions of dollars in upgrades to the MTA’s sprawling transportation network, would have charged motorists a base, daytime fee of $15 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. Under the new plan, they will be charged only $9.

The June pause left a $16.5 billion hole in the MTA’s five-year capital plan. That forced the agency to put critical plans on hold, including upgrades to make stations more accessible. Hochul said those projects are now a go — while conceding they may take a little longer to complete.

As soon as Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, advocates had warned that it was “now or never” to implement congestion pricing before the former president returns to office.

“Once it’s turned on, it becomes very difficult to turn off,” Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, told THE CITY on Thursday.

Read more here about how the new congestion pricing plan will work.

Hey, Scoop readers! Do you have burning questions about congestion pricing? THE CITY is putting together a guide, and we’d love your input. Let us know what to cover by writing to ask@thecity.nyc.

Weather 🌤

Mostly sunny and quite windy at times, with highs in the upper 50s.

MTA 🚇

The Manhattan-bound L skips Bedford Avenue overnight through the weekend, and more. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Nov. 15.

By the way

You’ll soon be able to follow city agencies and departments on Bluesky, since the mayor ordered accounts created after a surge in growth on the social media platform. (Guess who else is on Bluesky now?)

Our Other Top Stories

With Trump set to return to the White House, New York may be on its own to play catch-up with its ambitious, legally mandated climate goals. While the state has made some progress on requirements to have zero-emissions electricity production by 2040 and slash greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050, it’s got a long way to go and is failing to meet some of its goals. Trump has long rejected climate science, and so the state may no longer be able to rely on help at the federal level. In a twist, the person who could help most — Trump’s appointee to head the Environmental Protection Agency — is Lee Zeldin, the former state senator and Congress member representing eastern Long Island who challenged Hochul for governor in 2022 and lost.  Dozens of immigrant workers rallied outside the Brooklyn office of the state Department of Labor on Wednesday, urging the agency to accelerate its review of wage theft cases and to support workers’ pending applications for “deferred action.” Under a little-known federal program, installed by the Biden administration in January 2023, immigrants exploited in the workplace are allowed to apply for protected status on that basis. It’s expected to be shut down once Trump returns to office.

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Friday, Nov. 15: Join a wellness walk in Prospect Park, free from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. starting at the Boathouse. Saturday, Nov. 16: Create cozy fall crafts in a free workshop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum in Brooklyn. Saturday, Nov. 16: Go on a scenic nature walk and learn drawing techniques to capture the autumn landscape. Free from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Silver Lake Park in Staten Island.

THE KICKER: This week was the 135th anniversary of American journalist Nellie Bly’s record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days. Did you know that THE CITY’s pigeon mascot, Nellie, is named after her?

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Friday.

Love,

THE CITY

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