Uber, Lyft spent millions pushing for NYC congestion pricing and stand to make killing

Uber and Lyft poured millions of dollars into efforts to legalize congestion tolling — and they stand to be among the biggest winners.Uber spent $2 million alone from 2015 to 2019 to promote congestion pricing, roughly $1 million of which went to some of the city’s top lobbyists, the company confirmed to The Post in 2019.Since then, both and Uber and Lyft have continued to hire top lobbyists to help persuade key state and city officials to approve the controversial levy, including Gov.Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, records show.It’s unclear how much the companies spent lobbying for congestion pricing because the lobbyists hired worked on multiple issues, and officials records don’t break it down.The ride-share companies declined to provide The Post a breakdown — or even an estimate — of its lobbying expenses.Lyft — which also own the CitiBike program — has also directly contributed to pols who have been pushing the polarizing scheme.

Lyft poured over $125,000 into state campaigns since 2020 – including $18,500 the past four years to Hochul, who pushed it forward after a brief pause near the election, records show.It also donated $10,000 in 2020 to then-Gov.

Andrew Cuomo, who backed congestion pricing when he was in office but now wants to hit the brakes on it.It’s been money well spent.The growing industry — which got a huge boost last year when the city lifted a cap on how many for-hire vehicles can be on the road — stands to make a killing because the new surcharge is both cheaper than the $9 fee private vehicles will pay to enter parts of Manhattan, and the $2.90 straphangers pay to take subways and buses, critics say.

The ride-hailing services will be slapped with an additional $1.50 surcharge for Manhattan trips below 60th Street.But the additional costs will be passed on to customers — just like a similar $2.75 “congestion fee” on all trips below 96th Street authorized in 2019.“This is corporate...