Editor's note: The story in the video player originally aired on May 17, 2024.
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Congestion pricing has been paused by New York’s governor, but a federal judge says there's no legal reason to stop it.
In May, a hearing on the issue was held in Lower Manhattan in federal court. A group of plaintiffs from New York had sued to block the congestion pricing program in Manhattan. They said the MTA needed to do more environmental study.
The federal judge disagreed and found no legal cause to halt the program, and the lawsuit was dismissed.
There is still another federal lawsuit in New Jersey.
Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul stopped the implementation of congestion pricing, which was set for June 30. She said it was not the right time to add a charge for travel south of 60th Street in Manhattan.
After the judge's decision, the non-profit organization Riders Alliance called on Hochul to revive the congestion pricing plan.
"Now that a federal court has upheld the MTA's exhaustive environmental review, our governor should feel comfortable with moving forward and delivering the program's benefits," Riders Alliance said in a statement. "Rather than blow a $15 billion hole in the MTA's budget and cost New York another $10 billion in federal transit aid, Governor Hochul can reverse course now and implement congestion pricing, which would be a major victory for public transit, public health, and affordability."
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