© MIKE CARDEW / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) — The Trump Administration is pumping the brakes on New York City’s controversial congestion pricing plan. The US Department of Transportation released a statement, announcing the Federal Highway Administration terminated approval for the plan to charge drivers nine-dollars to enter below Manhattan’s 60th Street.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the toll a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners across New York and New Jersey. Duffy says he’s terminating the pilot because there is no toll-free option for drivers who need to travel into the area and because the toll rate was set primarily to raise revenue for transit, rather than at an amount needed to reduce congestion.
Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum says they’ll defend the program since public transit riders won congestion relief and are now enjoying faster and more reliable bus service from throughout New York and New Jersey. Meanwhile, the City’s Common Sense Caucus and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman say ending the program relieves hardworking commuters and small businesses from this unfair financial burden.
The MTA is filing papers in federal court to fight the Trump administration’s move to halt congestion pricing in Manhattan. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is defiant over the Trump administration pulling the plug on New York City’s congestion pricing program and has announced the state is suing and the cameras are staying on.
