NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – President Donald Trump has spoken with Gov. Kathy Hochul about stopping congestion pricing, but no decision has been made yet, a source told 1010 WINS Thursday amid reports the Trump administration is considering halting the tolling program weeks after it began.
The New York Times reported Thursday that the U.S. Department of Transportation was considering withdrawing a key federal authorization that the Biden administration gave the program last year, effectively killing it.
CBS News reported that Trump had assured Hochul this past week that he wouldn't take action against the program without telling her first. A source told the outlet she made the case to him for keeping the program in place and he told her they'd talk again next week.
Trump has been a vocal opponent of congestion pricing, vowing to "terminate" it when he assumed the presidency, though he has yet to do so despite a barrage of activity from his administration over the past week.
The tolling program charges most drivers $9 daily to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, with the price varying by time of day and the type of vehicle. Its goals include reducing traffic, funding the subway and improving air quality.
The program overcame a barrage of lawsuits and years of delays to take effect Jan. 5. The MTA said this week that the program has been effective at reducing the number of vehicles in the "Congestion Relief Zone," with travel times 10% to 30% faster at inbound river crossings, according to new data.
The controversial toll has been hailed as long-overdue by supporters that include mass transit and environmental advocates, but it's also reviled by many drivers, including suburban commuters and many cabbies.
A lawsuit against the program brought by New Jersey is still pending. Just last week, Gov. Phil Murphy wrote Trump saying they could find common ground on the program, which he called a “disaster for working- and middle-class New Jersey commuters and residents.”
Amid the reports, the MTA has pointed to recent comments by MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, who said, “We’ve been sued in every federal court and state court east of the Mississippi, and we’re batting 1.000. We’ve won every time.”
David Caplan contributed to this report.