President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday officially announced plans to reverse federal approval for New York City’s congestion pricing program. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent Gov. Kathy Hochul a letter rescinding the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of the tolling program, which began charging drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street on January 5. Early data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority following the toll’s launch revealed less congestion and faster commute times.
As first reported by the New York Post, Duffy claims the program runs contrary to the federal highway aid program, which prohibits tolling on roads built with federal funds unless there’s an exception granted by Congress via the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP).
According to Duffy, because it provides no toll-free option for drivers and the toll is “primarily set to raise revenue for transit, rather than at an amount needed to reduce congestion,” the program “exceeds the authority authorized by Congress under VPPP.”
Echoing Trump and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who earlier this year urged Trump to end the program, Duffy said the plan is a “slap in the face” to working-class Americans and small-business owners.
“Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means,” the secretary said. “It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few.”
The move will set up a legal battle between the Trump administration and New York. According to Times Union, Hochul said this month the White House does not have the legal authority to rescind approval.
“I believe that this is set,” the governor said, referring to the program. “It’s been established and all the requirements of the federal government were met. We have the approvals signed, sealed, and delivered.”
The program has survived several legal challenges in multiple states. In addition to reducing congestion and pollution, the tolls were projected to bring in $1 billion in annual revenue for the MTA.
In a statement released Wednesday, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agency filed a lawsuit in federal court to ensure the program will continue despite the “baseless effort” by the Trump administration.
“Today, the MTA filed papers in federal court to ensure that the highly successful program – which has already dramatically reduced congestion, bringing reduced traffic and faster travel times, while increasing speeds for buses and emergency vehicles – will continue notwithstanding this baseless effort to snatch those benefits away from the millions of mass transit users, pedestrians and, especially, the drivers who come to the Manhattan Central Business District,” Lieber said.
“It’s mystifying that after four years and 4,000 pages of federally-supervised environmental review – and barely three months after giving final approval to the Congestion Relief Program – USDOT would seek to totally reverse course.”
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