Statement on the Kickoff of New York’s Congestion Pricing Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 5, 2025

“Just a few hours ago, a switch was flipped, and New York took a quantum leap forward from the spark of energy created. Congestion pricing is finally… let me underline that… FINALLY… here, and we celebrate the cleaner, greener, faster, safer, smarter, more accessible, more equitable, more efficient future it brings.

Our mass transit is reliant on the funding congestion pricing will provide to bring the proposed 2025-29 MTA Capital Plan to life (once the legislature rightfully reverses course and approves it) and New Yorkers can look forward to the world-class system they so deserve and have waited far too long for.

The Building Congress is proud of the work we did alongside ally organizations to dispel the many myths about congestion pricing and fiercely advocate to make it a reality. We thank the Governor for her leadership in getting us across the finish line as well, including thwarting the many lawsuits that threatened this day. And we thank and congratulate MTA Chair Janno Lieber for enabling this historic moment.

Decades of debate are over.  And with that first sensor scanning that first license plate early this morning, New York took its rightful place as the steward of our nation’s transportation future.”

— Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., President & CEO New York Building Congress