Three organizations filed a lawsuit challenging New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision to halt the implementation of a Congestion Pricing Program in New York City that would impose tolls on vehicle traffic south of 60th Street in Manhattan and use at least $15 billion of the toll revenue for public transit capital projects. The petitioners asserted that the Governor’s decision violated obligations imposed on decisionmakers by New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which requires consideration of whether decisions are inconsistent with or would interfere with New York’s attainment of the CLCPA greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandates. The petitioners also asserted that the Governor’s action violated the New York Constitution’s Environmental Rights Amendment because it deprived New Yorkers of their right to cleaner air to which the State committed when it enacted the legislation authorizing the Congestion Pricing Program. 

Challenge to New York Governor's decision to halt the implementation of a Congestion Pricing Program in New York City.

Riders Alliance v. Hochul

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Lawsuit Said New York Governor’s Halt of Congestion Pricing Violated Climate Law and Environmental Rights Amendment

Filed

United States of America

New York

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A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

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A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Replacing technologies that burn fossil fuels directly with alternatives powered by electricity.

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Lawsuit Said New York Governor’s Halt of Congestion Pricing Violated Climate Law and Environmental Rights Amendment

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance