Today, NYC riders have made history.
We did it! After years of organizing, we’ve officially made it to day one of congestion pricing and the brighter future we won together for millions of riders.
Since 2018, when we demanded that Governor Cuomo fix the subway, we’ve consistently turned frustration into action. Action that delivered congestion pricing, a sustainable, equitable plan to fund major transit improvements, enshrined in State law with the 2019 Traffic Mobility Act.
But passing a law is usually just the beginning, and the hardest work often comes after “winning”. Our journey to this moment has been marked by years of building power, creating community, and repeatedly overcoming the most unfavorable odds to will this day into existence.
There were many moments when congestion pricing could have been lost. When the first Trump Administration stalled the program by refusing to advance the federal review. When Governor Hochul shocked us by reversing her support for the program at the eleventh hour. And even in recent weeks, when lawsuits prompted federal courts to review whether the plan would move forward or be delayed indefinitely.
Through every obstacle, riders showed up and kept the pressure on. Today, we celebrate the proof of our resolve to accomplish huge things—the nation’s first congestion pricing program is here, and it’s just the beginning.
Let’s put into context what this victory means for New York, across the five boroughs and beyond:
New elevators and accessible stations for New Yorkers with disabilities who have been waiting decades for a more equitable subway system;
a modern subway fleet and signals to make long waits and unexpected delays a thing of the past;
an expanded and fortified subway system with three new subway stations in East Harlem;
and a major reduction in traffic, pollution, and car dependency across our region.
This is transformative. It’s the kind of generational change and paradigm shift that holds the power to ripple outward for decades to come, shifting how not just New York City, but the rest of America, approaches transit, infrastructure, and urban sustainability. And it happened because we refused to quit.
Of course, we’re not at the end of the road. Winning (and implementing) a campaign is one thing; making sure it works is another. We know there will be hurdles ahead, but if this journey has proven anything, it’s that organized riders don’t back down.
