The messiness of cleaning up after congestion pricing is worth it

Good news: Governor Hochul secured a billion dollars for the MTA without the need for tax increases or congestion pricing.

Surprisingly, the state capitol’s War Room held the funds needed, waiting to be discovered.

The situation in Albany is chaotic as the Legislature considers Governor Hochul’s proposal to provide a 15-year, $15 billion loan to the MTA after she delayed congestion fees indefinitely.

Kudos to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for rejecting the idea of increasing the metro-area “mobility tax” to cover the budget shortfall.

The decision to cancel the “congestion toll” was the right move by Hochul as it was not a viable solution.

While the initial plans to replace MTA revenues may not be perfect, a simple one-year injection of $1 billion from the state’s reserves can support crucial investments such as modern signal systems.

The MTA’s true needs do not involve expensive projects like electric buses or station renovations, which were supposed to be funded by congestion fees.

Instead of depending on magical solutions like tolling, it is essential to address the root financial issues faced by the agency, such as the excessive amount spent on overtime.

Albany’s tendency to burden the public with the cost of grand schemes needs to change, and Hochul’s stance on congestion pricing marks a step in the right direction.

Although navigating through the changes may be challenging, it is necessary for the well-being of the MTA and the public it serves.