NYC judge denies Gov. Hochul effort to dismiss congestion pricing reinstatement suits

Gov. Hochul’s motion to dismiss a pair of lawsuits seeking to override her “temporary pause” on New York State’s congestion pricing program was denied Friday, raising the possibility the controversial tolling plan could be back in play.

Judge Arthur Engoron issued the denial from the bench Friday afternoon in Manhattan Supreme court, bringing an end to the governor’s efforts to toss out suits brought by the City Club of New York and by transit advocates at Riders Alliance.

Those suits claim the Hochul’s eleventh-hour decision to pause congestion pricing in June — just three weeks before it was set to start — was illegal.

Attorneys for Hochul have 30 days to appeal the denial before the cases can be heard on their merits.

A spokesman for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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