The battle over New York City’s congestion pricing program is heating up after the Trump administration ordered the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to terminate the tolling system by March 21. Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA, however, are pushing back, setting the stage for a showdown over the future of congestion pricing in New York City.
USDoT sent a letter to the MTA, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York City Department of Transportation, stating that the congestion pricing must be shut down by 21 March 2025, according to Fox 5.
Despite the Federal mandate, the MTA and Governor Hochul are not complying without a legal fight. At an MTA board meeting on Wednesday, Hochul reaffirmed her commitment to congestion pricing, arguing that the program is already improving New York’s transit system.
Governor Hochul has been a staunch defender of the program and personally met with President Trump in Washington, D.C., last week to discuss the issue.
At Wednesday’s MTA board meeting, Governor Hochul strongly pushed back against the federal directive, arguing that the program is essential for New Yorkers.
“There is a huge disconnect between the reality we know that New Yorkers are facing and the perception of reality out of the White House. I guarantee that the president has never had to endure missing a child’s sporting event because he was stuck on a delayed train,” Hochul said.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber also made it clear that the agency will not shut off congestion pricing without a court order. He cited the MTA’s legal victories in past congestion pricing challenges and expressed confidence that the program will withstand the latest federal push.
The MTA has already filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York challenging the federal government’s move. The case will likely determine the fate of congestion pricing, as the court has ruled in favor of the MTA in previous congestion pricing disputes.
For now, 21 March remains the deadline set by the Trump administration, but whether the tolling system actually shuts down will depend on the courts.
Pic: Paul Hakimata/Dreamstime.com
