Governor Kathy Hochul’s surprising decision to delay congestion pricing has sparked widespread reactions. Originally set to begin on June 30th, the program has now been postponed indefinitely, despite the gantries designed to read license plates and toll drivers still standing.

Hochul announced the delay just before 10 a.m. on Thursday, causing a ripple effect of responses from both supporters and opponents of congestion pricing. The plan, developed over the last five years, would have imposed a $15 toll on drivers in streets and avenues below 60th Street. The MTA projected the program would generate $1 billion in revenue to fund transportation repairs and upgrades.

Now, with the plan halted, reactions are pouring in. John Samuelsen, President of TWU International, expressed his frustration, stating he had warned the MTA that it wasn’t ready to implement congestion pricing. “It was a betrayal of blue-collar New York. This had to be accompanied by new service. It couldn’t just be accompanied by the slap of a toll and no added benefit for working people beyond what they already have,”.

Local union members are set to rally today at their Brooklyn headquarters, urging MTA CEO Janno Lieber to implement essential improvements to the transit system.