NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration has suddenly put a stop to congestion pricing tolls in New York City, a system that aims to reduce traffic and support mass transit by charging drivers to enter certain Manhattan neighborhoods. Launched on January 5, the city’s program utilizes license plate readers to levy a $9 toll on most vehicles entering Manhattan areas below Central Park. Transit officials noted early on that the toll had led to slight yet noticeable decreases in traffic.
In a surprising move, the federal government has revoked its endorsement of the program, as announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on Wednesday, denouncing the toll as “detrimental to working-class Americans and small business owners.” According to Duffy’s statement, the Federal Highway Administration will collaborate with the state to implement a “smooth termination of the tolls.”
President Trump celebrates this decision, having vowed to dismantle the plan upon taking office, criticizing it as a regressive tax. He declared victory on his social media platform Truth Social following the announcement from the Transportation Department, proclaiming, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED.” Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, expressed determination to continue the fight, emphasizing the legal battle initiated by the state’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority to preserve the congestion pricing program.
The tolling system, akin to those in cities like London and Singapore, was designed to encourage the use of public transportation by making driving financially burdensome. Despite the contentious nature of the toll, which drew criticism from car owners in New York, proponents praised it as an innovative approach to reducing air pollution and enhancing traffic flow for essential vehicles. The toll varied based on factors such as vehicle size and time of day.
Although the tolling plan received approval from New York legislators in 2019, it faced delays in implementation due to a federal environmental review during the previous administration.
The toll managed to withstand numerous legal challenges aiming to stop it before its implementation. Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat from neighboring New Jersey, went to court to oppose it and even wrote a letter to President Trump on Inauguration Day, urging him to scrap the program. Governor Hochul also harbored reservations about the toll. In June of last year, she suddenly halted the planned launch of the tolling system, citing concerns about its potential impact on the local economy. However, she later reinstated the toll in November after Trump’s election, but decided to lower the toll for passenger vehicles from $15 to $9.
Since then, she has praised the toll as a victory for the city and has engaged in multiple discussions about the issue with the president. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, also a Democrat, had previously supported congestion pricing but has recently taken a more neutral stance on the matter, seeming reluctant to get involved in a growing dispute between Trump and the state.
“When asked about the possibility of Trump cancelling congestion pricing, Adams told reporters last month, ‘If the federal government has the authority to take action within their scope of power, then we can’t just sit back and grumble about it, because we also operate within our own jurisdiction,'” he stated.
