New York City, NY – A new lawsuit spearheaded by city officials and a prominent transport workers union is taking aim at the Metropolitan Transportation Finished Authority (MTA), challenging the consequences of Governor Kathy Hochul’s abrupt suspension of the city’s congestion pricing scheme. This legal action, led by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, and Transport Workers Union of America Local 100, claims that the suspension has triggered unjustified cuts to bus services, affecting thousands of commuters.
Scheduled to initiate on June 30, the congestion pricing initiative was anticipated to generate significant funds for the MTA by imposing fees on vehicles entering crowded parts of Manhattan. These funds were earmarked for extensive improvements across the city’s public transportation system. However, on June 5, Governor Hochul unexpectedly ordered an indefinite halt to the congestion pricing program.
The legal complaint, filed in the State Supreme Court in New York County, argues that the MTA’s decision to slash bus routes and implement a hiring freeze was a direct violation of statutory requirements. Notably, it emphasizes that the service reductions, affecting between 5% and 10% of bus runs since July 12, have heightened wait times and overcrowded buses, compromising passenger safety and convenience.
Under state law, any proposed non-emergency reductions in bus services are supposed to be preceded by a 30-day notification to both the mayor and city council, allowing time for a public hearing. The lawsuit contends that no such notice was given before the recent cuts, and it seeks a court order to restore bus service levels to those prior to July 12 and to prevent future cuts without proper notice and hearing.
This lawsuit is likely just the first in a series of legal challenges related to the cessation of congestion pricing. Shortly after the program’s pause, Comptroller Lander announced a broad alliance of legal teams preparing to contest the pause. Among the assembled legal experts are attorneys from Earthjustice, Mobilization for Justice, and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel. These teams are exploring actions on behalf of various affected groups, including disabled commuters and environmental advocates.
The broader coalition, which includes legal experts focusing on the 2019 New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and the mandated implementation of congestion pricing, suggests a complex legal battle ahead. Potential lawsuits could extend well beyond bus riders, encompassing those with disabilities affected by halted improvements to station accessibility.
Michael B. Gerrard from Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law expressed broader implications of the governor’s decision, stating, “This marks the commencement of a series of legal challenges brought forth not just by transit riders and workers, but also by disabled individuals and others who value air quality, all of whom have suffered from the governor’s unlawful halt to congestion pricing.”
In summary, these unfolding legal actions highlight not just specific grievances with transit policy changes, but also larger questions about governance, environmental policy, and the rights of urban commuters in New York City. As the court proceedings progress, they will likely shed light on the balance between executive authority and mandated procedures, with potentially significant implications for the state’s transportation infrastructure and environmental policies.