The governor paused the toll plan before it began in June, citing that the $15 cost for passenger vehicles was too much. Reports came out indicating it may have been a political move to prevent a drop in support for Democratic New York House candidates.

Hochul announced the new plan at a noon press conference on Thursday.

“I’m proud to announce we have found a path to fund the MTA, reduce congestion, and keep millions of dollars in the pockets of our commuters [and] under this plan, the MTA will implement a congestion pricing plan with a reduced daytime toll of $9 beginning in January,” she said.

The new price, $9, was the lowest the governor could reduce the price before a new environmental report would have to be made. Nevertheless, the news of the toll is likely to please environmental and transportation enthusiasts in the city who protested Hochul’s original decision.

One of the biggest proponents for congestion pricing was New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is also a top contender for the Democratic nomination in the city’s 2025 mayoral race. He had been growing restless with the start of the toll.

“This is $15 billion of investments in our subways that we’re never going to see again if we don’t get them started before Jan. 20,” Lander said. The toll is supposed to fund the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and reduce traffic in Manhattan with the aim of reducing emissions as well.

Lander acknowledges that Republicans will come after the toll. “Could Donald Trump try to sue New York? He could, but we believe it’s on solid legal ground, and that’s part of what we have to look at, make sure all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed so that it’ll withstand challenges in court,” he said.

Trump has opposed the toll plan.

“It is a big incentive not to come — there are plenty of other places to go,” Trump said in May before the pause. “Hopefully, it will soon be withdrawn!”

New York Republicans have urged him to do what he can when he takes office to halt the plan.

“She’s so cynical and arrogant to be able to say with a straight face that she’s going to unpause congestion pricing a week after the election,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) said. “Even if they do proceed and are successful in getting it implemented by Jan. 20 … the Trump administration can still require it be halted so an environmental impact statement could be made. … That’s what I’ll urge them to do.”

Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) also opposed the plan. As of 2022, over 400,000 people commute from northern New Jersey to New York City every day.

“I am firmly opposed to any attempt to force through a congestion pricing proposal in the final months of the Biden Administration,” Murphy said in a statement. “All of us need to listen to the message that voters across America sent last Tuesday, which is that the vast majority of Americans are experiencing severe economic strains and still feeling the effects of inflation. There could not be a worse time to impose a new $9 toll on individuals who are traveling into downtown Manhattan for work, school, or leisure.”

Hochul is up for reelection in 2026, and her campaign likely hopes the plan will improve her approval rating, which hit a record low in September.