Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has made a U-turn on one of the most controversial moves of her time as governor right after Election Day. Hochul is talking about reviving an unpopular congestion pricing plan that might have made the prospect of flipping several Republican House seats more difficult.

Hochul said she would updates on MTA funding later this year, without congestion pricing, despite the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Trump.

In 2019, state lawmakers approved a congestion pricing program to charge drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. The program was scheduled to launch on June 30, but Hochul paused it on June 5. She said the cost was too high given economic inflation, adding that the tolls imperiled Manhattan’s post-pandemic recovery.

SAN JUAN — Gov. Kathy Hochul has taken a step to revive congestion pricing before President-elect Donald Trump, who opposes the extra toll, takes office.

Advocates want the governor to revive the toll program before Trump, who has vowed to kill the plan, takes office for his second term.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, facing pressure from supporters of the contentious tolling plan, is said to be exploring options for adopting it in some form.