Traffic clogs Manhattan every holiday season, forcing pedestrians to weave between cars filled with drivers lamenting their life choices while blocking crosswalks.

The MTA has a tool to address the problem, but Gov. Kathy Hochul has so far opted not to use it. State law allows the agency to increase the price of its daily congestion tolls by 25% on “Gridlock Alert” days, when the city transportation department essentially declares a traffic emergency.

Shortly before congestion pricing went into effect in January, Hochul barred transit officials from implementing the surge pricing as a way to help clear the streets.

“Under no circumstances will I allow this discretionary 25% surcharge on gridlock days to be used,” Hochul’s office wrote on Christmas Eve.

The directive remains in effe

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