NYC Comptroller Lander, Advocate & Litigator Coalition Cheer Lawsuit Settlement & Signed Agreement to Begin Congestion Pricing on January 5

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and the coalition of advocates and legal experts, convened by the Comptroller’s office, celebrate the settlement of the Riders Alliance v. Hochul and City Club v. Hochul lawsuits. Transit advocates sued to ensure that congestion pricing would go into effect, as required by state law. The settlement serves as a legally binding commitment that the parties will take every step to ensure that New York City’s congestion pricing program will begin as scheduled on January 5, 2025.  

The coalition also cheered the signing of the Tolling Agreement created under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP), a major step towards final implementation. The execution of the Tolling Agreement provides formal approval from the federal government allowing the program to commence. 

“We are two big steps closer to modernized subway signals, new station elevators, expanded subways, faster bus service, less traffic, and cleaner air,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “Props to our strong coalition of lawyers, experts, plaintiffs, and transit advocates who brought these lawsuits to ensure that congestion pricing would go into effect as required by law – and succeeded in doing exactly that. The legal settlement solidifies Governor Hochul’s commitment to un-pause congestion pricing, and the execution of the VPPP provides the federal, state, and local approvals needed to get it up and running before Donald Trump takes office. Thank you to Governor Hochul, MTA Chair Janno Lieber, to the plaintiffs – Riders Alliance, the Sierra Club, New York City-Environmental Justice Alliance, and the City Club of New York – and to their talented attorneys who stepped up and filed these lawsuits, in coordination with our office, on behalf of hardworking straphangers who rely on New York’s public transit every single day.”