NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The Trump administration on Wednesday moved to end congestion pricing in Manhattan, less than two months after the controversial tolling program began—and the MTA quickly filed a lawsuit, calling it a "highly successful program...that has already dramatically reduced congestion."
Trump, who has had multiple phone calls with Gov. Kathy Hochul on the issue in recent weeks, posted on Truth Social: "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!"
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration said it had terminated its previous approval of the congestion pricing program, known officially as the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP). The agreement had allowed the MTA to charge driver's entering a "Congestion Relief Zone" below 60th Street in Manhattan.
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a statement. "Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few."
Duffy sent Hochul a letter Wednesday, saying the DOT had rescinded the Nov. 21, 2024, agreement reached under the former President Joe Biden's administration. He said his agency will work with the state on an “orderly termination of the tolls.”
Hochul and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber held a press conference at Grand Central Station Wednesday afternoon and vowed to fight back against the Trump administration's attempt to derail the tolling plan.
“New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years. We sure as hell are not going to start now," Hochul said in direct response to Trump's social media posts about the "death" of congestion pricing. The posts include a faux Time Magazine cover of Trump dressed as a monarch, which Hochul held up during the press conference.
According to the governor, the MTA was prepared for action from Washington, and "within minutes" of getting the notification, the MTA filed a lawsuit challenging the DOT in federal court. While promising to continue the fight, Hochul said that "The cameras are staying on, we are keeping the cameras on."
Through her address Hochul made it clear that she is battling the White House on behalf of states' rights. “I don’t care if you love congestion pricing or hate it. This is an attack on our sovereign identity, our independence from Washington,” she said.
Lieber joined in on this idea, emphasizing that the MTA is doing "exactly what the federal government asked of New York and everybody."
"We are doing a thoughtful, local solution," the transit head said. "I thought the Republican Party was in favor of local control.”
In a statement made right after the announcement, Lieber called the move by the DOT "mystifying."
"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," Lieber's statement continued.
The tolling program, which was launched on Jan. 5 after years of legal wrangling, has been charging most drivers $9 daily to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, with the price varying by time of day and the type of vehicle.
Hochul lauded the economic, traffic and community benefits of congestion pricing thus far. She said that commuters are getting to work faster, foot traffic to local businesses is spiking, school buses are transporting kids on time and public support is growing.
“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king," Hochul said. "The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We’ll see you in court.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who has long been opposed to the tolling plan, thanked Trump and Duffy for the decision. He noted that he has "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."
Murphy did acknowledge his working relationship with New York, and stated that despite his "difference of opinion" with his colleagues across the Hudson, he "[looks] forward to continuing that spirit of partnership for the benefit of the entire Tri-State Area.”
Local lawmakers who have fought against the toll for years celebrated the news.
“We thank President Trump and Transportation Secretary Duffy for keeping their promise to examine and halt New York City's Congestion Pricing scheme,” U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican from Staten Island, said in a statement.
Democratic Council Member Robert Holden, of Queens, also hailed the move, saying, “President Trump kept his promise to New Yorkers by stopping the unfair congestion pricing scheme, a scam tax that was unjust from the very start.”
Supporters of congestion pricing quickly reacted as well. They have touted the program's goal of reducing traffic, funding the subway and improving air quality, and they said it has produced tangible results in a matter of weeks. According to the MTA, traffic in the congestion zone was down 9% during the first week of February, compared to the same period in 2024.
Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum put out a statement saying, “Public transit riders won congestion relief and are now enjoying faster and more reliable bus service from throughout New York and New Jersey.”
“We organized for a decade, held two governors accountable, and prevailed in court in three states after years of exhaustive environmental studies. We are committed to maintaining and expanding on our victory and will defend it with everything we have,” Plum added.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, who represents part of Manhattan covered by the toll, called the DOT's arguments for axing the program "laughable" and that "revoking approval for a federal initiative of this magnitude is nearly without precedent."
"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," Nadler said, adding it had become "immensely popular among New Yorkers."
Democratic State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, of Brooklyn, said, "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."
Trump had previously vowed to kill the tolling program, which survived several lawsuits trying to halt it before its launch, including from the state of New Jersey, unionized teachers in New York City, a trucking industry group and local elected leaders in the Hudson River Valley, Long Island and northern New Jersey.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.