NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber broke his silence on Monday, outlining the next steps the MTA will take after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an indefinite pause on the congestion pricing plan, nearly a month before it was set to begin.
“Last week was incredibly difficult,” Lieber said at the start of the conference. He later revealed that he learned about Hochul’s decision the night before it was announced.
When asked by a reporter if he had considered resigning in protest, Lieber responded, "It’s not in my nature to walk away or quit."
With the pause on the congestion pricing plan, Lieber went on to talk about the MTA’s immediate actions. “Our job at the MTA is not to be political analysts,” Lieber said. “For New Yorkers, transit is like air and water – we need it to survive.”
Lieber talked about how the MTA will conduct an intensive review to prioritize and potentially shrink the current 2020-2024 capital program. He said that efforts will be made to secure federal grants, including the $3.4 billion commitment for the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2. Additionally, special advisors will work to ensure that these funds are protected despite the current uncertainties.
When it comes to lawsuits against the congestion plan, Lieber said he will “continue to defend all the other claims that have been set forth in the various lawsuits.”
Lieber also talked about his commitment to moving forward with the details of the congestion pricing program. “We have to be willing to do the work in hard times as well as in better times to ensure we continue to make progress,” Lieber said.
Earlier today, Hochul during a press conference also answered questions about the indefinite pause of the congestion pricing program, suggesting that the suspension doesn’t mean the end of the plan but opens the doors to reconsider various aspects of the plan.
Reporter Juliet Papa asked Hochul whether the indefinite pause on congestion pricing could mean changes to the fees, the times it applies, and the areas it covers. Hochul responded that "all options are on the table for future conversations.”
“There's a big difference between a pause and elimination," she said. "Elimination was an option."
Hochul also stated her support for mass transit. "I understand the level of concern at this time. But as the governor of the State of New York, I am committed to continuing those projects with alternative funding that is being worked out with the legislature. I gave them a number of options. Those conversations are very much alive and ongoing, and it will be resolved."
Although Hochul did not provide specifics on the alternative funding opportunities, she indicated that discussions were ongoing with legislative leaders and Lieber.
"I spoke to Jano Lieber yesterday, and he has been working hard with me," Hochul said.
Lieber had not made a public statement until today regarding the pause on the congestion pricing plan for Manhattan.
Hochul last week directed the MTA to "indefinitely pause" the plan nearly a month before it was set to begin, citing concerns about its impact on the finances of everyday New Yorkers and the city's post-pandemic recovery.