Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman warned Tuesday that New York’s controversial congestion pricing program could eventually spread beyond Manhattan if Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul wins another term, accusing her administration of relying on additional taxes and fees to finance excessive government spending.
Speaking beneath a congestion pricing camera on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Nassau County executive pledged to eliminate the $9 toll imposed on most drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street if elected governor on November 3.
Blakeman argued that the program represents another financial burden on working families, commuters and small businesses already struggling with New York’s high cost of living.
He also warned that similar tolling systems could eventually appear in communities throughout the state, although Hochul has not announced a plan to expand congestion pricing statewide.
“Doesn’t matter whether it’s New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Binghamton or any town in between,” Blakeman said while discussing the possibility of additional congestion charges.
The Republican candidate specifically identified major roads in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island as locations he believes could eventually become targets for similar tolling arrangements.
He mentioned Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, Queens Boulevard and Northern Boulevard in Queens, Tremont Avenue in the Bronx and the Staten Island Expressway.
Blakeman maintained that the state government would continue searching for additional sources of revenue unless its spending practices changed.
“I will stop that as governor,” he declared.
The remarks came during a campaign appearance near Fifth Avenue and East 62nd Street, where Blakeman pointed to traffic conditions as evidence that the existing tolling system had failed to eliminate congestion.
The candidate questioned whether charging motorists an additional fee had delivered the promised improvements to Manhattan’s streets.
“You can look here. I don’t think it’s reduced traffic at all,” Blakeman said.
His observation reflected conditions at the location during the press conference rather than a comprehensive assessment of traffic changes across the congestion pricing zone.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has maintained that the program has reduced traffic and generated funding for public transportation improvements.
However, Blakeman argued that motorists should not be forced to pay additional fees to travel on public roads already supported by taxpayer dollars.
He described congestion pricing as a financial burden that disproportionately affects middle-class residents who depend on their vehicles for work, family responsibilities and daily transportation.
The Republican candidate also criticized New York’s overall spending, comparing the state’s budget with that of Florida.
Blakeman noted that New York spends substantially more despite having a smaller population.
“Our budget in the state of New York is twice the size of the State of Florida and there’s 4 million more people in Florida,” he said.
The candidate also referenced a September report from the Citizens Budget Commission identifying New York as having the highest state and local tax burden per resident in the country.
He argued that the state’s financial problems stem from spending decisions rather than insufficient tax revenue.
“We don’t have a revenue problem in New York state, we’ve got a spending problem,” Blakeman said.
The congestion pricing dispute has become a central issue in the gubernatorial campaign, particularly among suburban commuters who regularly travel into Manhattan.
New York’s tolling program began in January 2025 after years of planning and repeated political disagreements over its implementation.
Under the system, most passenger vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district during peak hours are charged $9, with different rates applying to other vehicle categories and travel periods.
The revenue is intended to support improvements to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s subway, bus and commuter rail networks.
The program has generated controversy because it imposes an additional expense on drivers who may already pay bridge and tunnel tolls, parking charges and other transportation costs.
Blakeman has repeatedly argued that New York should prioritize controlling government expenditures rather than collecting additional revenue from motorists.
He also criticized Hochul’s handling of the program before the 2024 elections.
The Democratic governor temporarily paused congestion pricing in June 2024, shortly before the system was scheduled to begin.
She subsequently announced that the program would proceed following the November election, with the toll reduced from its previously planned $15 level to $9.
The tolling system officially began operating in January 2025.
Blakeman accused Hochul of reversing her position once the election had passed.
He argued that voters should consider that history when evaluating her current campaign promises.
The Republican also connected the tolling controversy to his broader criticism of Hochul’s economic policies, including housing expenses, utility bills and state taxes.
He has made affordability a major theme of his campaign, promising to reduce costs for residents and businesses.
President Trump has also opposed Manhattan’s congestion pricing program and attempted to terminate it after returning to the White House.
The Trump administration moved to withdraw federal approval for the tolling arrangement, arguing that it unfairly burdened motorists.
However, a federal judge ruled that the administration lacked the authority to unilaterally terminate the program under the circumstances presented.
The tolls have remained in effect while legal and political disputes continue.
Blakeman suggested that cooperation between a Republican governor and the Trump administration could provide a path toward ending congestion pricing.
Nevertheless, eliminating the program would present legal and financial complications.
The tolling system was established under state law, and repealing it would generally require action by the New York Legislature.
Democrats currently control both legislative chambers.
Blakeman also suggested that he could use executive authority or direct the MTA to stop enforcing the tolls.
Those approaches could face legal challenges, particularly because congestion pricing revenue is connected to financing for approximately $15 billion in transit capital projects.
Canceling the revenue stream could create obligations involving outstanding bonds and commitments to transportation improvements.
The Republican candidate did not provide a detailed plan Tuesday explaining how those financial issues would be resolved.
Blakeman maintained that congestion could be addressed without charging drivers additional tolls.
Instead, he proposed making public transportation more attractive by improving safety, cleanliness and reliability.
He called for additional police officers in subway stations, more transit personnel and stronger enforcement against fare evasion.
The candidate argued that improving conditions underground would encourage more commuters to use trains and buses rather than drive into Manhattan.
“The way to reduce traffic congestion is to make cleaner and safer train stations and subway stations, cleaner buses,” Blakeman said.
He also emphasized the importance of increasing staffing throughout the transit system.
Blakeman pointed to fare evasion as another financial problem facing the MTA.
The transit agency has reported substantial losses associated with unpaid fares, including more than $1 billion in estimated revenue losses during 2024 across its transportation systems.
The Republican argued that stronger enforcement could help recover revenue while improving conditions for paying passengers.
Hochul’s campaign rejected his criticism and defended the governor’s transportation investments.
A campaign spokesperson accused Blakeman of siding with President Trump against New York’s public transit interests.
The governor’s representatives maintained that Hochul has invested billions in transportation infrastructure and public safety while working to improve commuting options.
They also argued that eliminating congestion pricing could jeopardize funding for transit improvements.
Hochul has defended the tolling program as an important source of revenue for modernizing the subway system and reducing traffic in Manhattan.
During a separate interview Tuesday, the governor acknowledged the controversy surrounding congestion pricing but continued defending her broader economic and transportation agenda.
The disagreement highlights competing approaches to addressing New York’s transportation costs and infrastructure needs.
Blakeman wants to eliminate the tolls and focus on spending controls, public safety and stronger transit enforcement.
Hochul maintains that congestion pricing provides essential funding for transportation improvements and helps reduce the number of vehicles entering Manhattan’s busiest streets.
The issue has become particularly important on Long Island, where commuters frequently depend on highways, bridges, tunnels and the Long Island Rail Road.
Blakeman has used his position as Nassau County executive to criticize state transportation policies and argue that suburban residents are paying too much for essential services.
With Election Day approaching, the Republican candidate is seeking to make congestion pricing a central question in the governor’s race.
His warning about possible expansion remains a campaign claim rather than an announced state policy, but it reflects his argument that New York’s government has become too dependent on taxes, tolls and fees.
Blakeman has pledged to pursue the program’s elimination if elected, while Hochul continues defending it as a source of funding for the state’s transportation network.
The dispute leaves voters with a significant policy disagreement over how New York should finance public transit, address traffic congestion and manage the costs imposed on drivers.
The post Bruce Blakeman Warns Hochul Could Expand Congestion Pricing Across New York, Vows to Eliminate $9 Toll appeared first on Real News Now.
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