She insisted it was not a victory lap. But there she was, riding the crosstown bus along 14th Street, with the New York City press corps.
"The gridlock is not anywhere near what used to be," Hochul said. "We're able to move around. So that's why people are coming in. It feels like a more welcoming place. You're not going to sit here in traffic."
The governor was prepared to defy the Trump Administration Friday, but she didn't have to.
Late Thursday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy granted the MTA a 30-day extension on its deadline to decommission congestion pricing. Hochul told reporters that the MTA is on solid legal ground, and that President Trump seems willing to listen.
"I have a direct communication line to the president, and I feel confident that we'll find a path forward that sustains this important source of not just revenue, but a way that stimulates a quality of life and a vitality in the city that we've not seen in a long time," Hochul said.
Travel is now faster through the congestion zone and on the river crossings.
Noise complaints and traffic accidents are down-and millions are being raised to upgrade the transit system.
So far this year, traffic volume is down 11% with three million fewer vehicles. Overall, travel times are down 30%.
Mike Smith takes the bus and says the difference is obvious.
"A little bit faster, moving around, especially on the bus," Smith said. "Subway, it's pretty much the same; with the bus, a little bit faster."
But critics in New Jersey are still pushing back.
"Every day that congestion pricing continues in Manhattan's Central Business District," said Governor Phil Murphy, "is another day that hardworking New Jerseyans are unfairly tolled to line the pockets of the mismanaged MTA."
Kathryn Wylde runs the city's largest business group, Partnership for New York City. She says congestion pricing has been an extraordinary success.
"Broadway sales are up 21%, in fact, restaurant reservations were up 7% since congestion pricing started," Wylde said. "So every all the worst fears are not being realized. And in fact, quite the opposite."
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