Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York announced on Wednesday that she was indefinitely shelving the long-awaited tolling scheme known as congestion pricing, just weeks before it was to go into effect.

Ms. Hochul said that her decision was not an easy one, but she felt it was crucial in light of the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the city’s economy, as well as on working families.

The congestion pricing plan, the first of its kind in the nation and one that has been decades in the making, was slated to start June 30. Drivers using E-ZPass would have paid as much as $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.

“Let’s be real: A $15 charge may not seem like a lot to someone who has the means but it can break the budget of a hard-working or middle-class household,” Ms. Hochul said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.