President Trump Plans To End NYC Congestion Plan

NEW YORK CITY — The Trump administration is expected to announce Wednesday that it is pulling its approval of the congestion pricing program.

Dept. of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, said the congestion pricing plan is "a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners.

“But now the toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways. It’s backwards and unfair,” according to a letter obtained by the New York Post. “Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economical means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few.”

The DOT will rescind the Nov. 21 agreement signed under the Value Pricing Pilot Program.

Duffy argues congestion pricing runs counter to the federal highway aid program, which prohibits tolling on roads built with federal funds unless Congress grants an exception, according to the report.

In addition, the DOT states that the plan fails to provide a toll-free alternative for drivers who have no choice but to traverse city roads by vehicle.

Congestion pricing imposed a $9 charge on drivers to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.

The purpose of the plan is to reduce gridlock in Manhattan's busiest areas and encourage public transit use, officials said.

The plan was expected to generate more than $15 billion for public transportation upgrades in New York City, the MTA said.

Gov. Hochul at a press conference Wednesday said the decision was "an attack on our sovereign identity."

"The commuters of our city and our region are now the roadkill on Donald Trump's revenge tour against New York," she said.

"The cameras are staying on. We are keeping the cameras on."

In response to the decision, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agency has filed papers in federal court to ensure that the program 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."

"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," Lieber added.

Reaction To Congestion Pricing Ending

A number of elected officials and transit leaders and transportation advocates have commented on President Trump's looming decision to end congestion pricing.

Here's what they had to say:

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy:

“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Duffy for their efforts to halt the current congestion pricing program in Manhattan’s Central Business District. While I have consistently expressed openness to a form of congestion pricing that meaningfully protects the environment and does not unfairly burden hardworking New Jersey commuters, the current program lines the MTA’s pockets at the expense of New Jerseyans.

Although we have had a difference of opinion with our colleagues in New York on congestion pricing, we have always had a productive relationship with our neighbors across the Hudson. I look forward to continuing that spirit of partnership for the benefit of the entire Tri-State Area.”

Senator Zellnor Myrie:

"Another day, another direct Trump assault on NYC. Congestion pricing is working and is critical for the investments we need to make in our public transit system. We need leadership that's not afraid to stand up for us, or stand up against Donald Trump."

Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans:

"Congestion pricing has proven to be an effective solution to reduce traffic, improve air quality, and improve public transit—benefits that even those driving into Manhattan have come to appreciate. It’s a policy that works and has gained widespread public support since its implementation. The program was passed into law through democratically legitimate mechanisms, courts have repeatedly upheld congestion pricing after legal challenges, and they will do so again now. Any attempt by Donald Trump to dismantle it is not only misguided and will prove unpopular, but also oversteps his legal authority. We can’t let political gamesmanship stand in the way of cleaner air, less traffic, and better transit options for New Yorkers."

Senator Andrew Gounardes:

“By blocking this successful policy, Trump will be directly responsible for more traffic, more crashes, more polluted air, slower buses and less funding for our transit system. This means no new station elevators for elderly and disabled riders, and no new subway signals to speed up commutes for working New Yorkers. Congestion pricing was put in place after years of careful study, and early results show it’s worked to reduce traffic and speed up commutes for drivers and bus riders. The Trump administration may claim to care about the working class, but this ridiculous, backwards decision to kill a successful program will hurt all New Yorkers.

My message to the President? We will fight this decision, and we will see you in court.”

Ben Furnas, Executive Director at Transportation Alternatives:

“This is an assault on common sense and New York’s autonomy. Congestion pricing is already reducing traffic, and improving commutes for millions of New Yorkers. Donald Trump wants to bring back gridlocked traffic, noisy streets, and longer waits for the train. We won’t sit idly by while he tries to kill the most successful transportation policy in a generation. Donald Trump does not control New York City’s streets or its destiny, and we will fight him every step of the way.”

Rep. Mike Lawler:

"I want to extend my sincere thanks to President Trump and his Administration for taking swift and decisive action to suspend Kathy Hochul’s disastrous congestion pricing scheme. This is a huge win for New York families, commuters, and small businesses ruthlessly targeted by this unjust tax.

Make no mistake: this entire program is nothing more than a scam - a money grab - and is the symptom of a far deeper, systemic issue in our state - government overreach and rampant mismanagement at the hands of Kathy Hochul and her cronies in Albany.

Instead of imposing new, crippling taxes on struggling families, we should be auditing the MTA, the worst-run authority in America, to find savings, address its outrageous waste, and make sure that commuters are kept safe and served as well as they deserve."

Rep. Jerry Nadler:

"The arguments presented by U.S. Dept. of Transportation are utterly baseless and, frankly, laughable. Congestion pricing has not only consistently withstood significant legal challenges, emerging victorious in every court decision to date, but it has also become immensely popular among New Yorkers, delivering on its promises—less traffic, fewer crashes, and reduced noise pollution, all contributing to safer, quieter streets.

The notion of revoking approval for a federal initiative of this magnitude is nearly without precedent. I firmly believe that there is no legal basis for the President to unilaterally halt this program. The Value Pricing Program is solidly established under federal law, and its approval cannot be arbitrarily revoked, especially when it is clearly delivering tangible benefits.

Mr. President, we’ll see you in court."