Trump admin demands end to congestion tolls this month

The Trump administration mentioned Tuesday that it’s not backing off its newest deadline for New York to finish its $9 congestion toll on drivers getting into essentially the most traffic-snarled components of Manhattan, regardless of a latest courtroom submitting that indicated the cost would stay not less than by the summer time.

Attorneys for the 2 sides just lately reached an settlement that appeared to sluggish issues down. They proposed a briefing schedule that enables for courtroom filings by the tip of July and probably into October, whereas authorities attorneys indicated they would not search an injunction to cease the tolls whereas the lawsuit proceeds, in line with a joint letter dated Friday and signed by an MTA lawyer to the choose within the case.

However the U.S. Division of Transportation mentioned Tuesday that it wasn’t backing off from its instant calls for to finish the tolling. In a submit on the social platform X, the company mentioned the April 20 deadline stands.

“This is a complete lie by the elitist New York liberal media, whose rich buddies love the idea of pricing poor people out of the city,” the submit mentioned. “The truth is simple agreements on judicial timelines have no bearing on the underlying merits of our case or our position.”

It added, “Make no mistake — the Trump Administration and USDOT will not hesitate to use every tool at our disposal in response to non-compliance later this month.”

Duffy beforehand urged that federal funding for New York could possibly be in danger if it didn’t finish the toll.

The U.S. legal professional’s workplace in Manhattan, which represents Duffy within the lawsuit, declined to remark.

The MTA additionally declined to remark, saying Friday’s letter speaks for itself.

The Trump administration has pushed to finish the tolling program, with the U.S. Division of Transportation beforehand ordering the MTA to cease gathering tolls by March 21. However simply earlier than the deadline, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned the company would enable a 30-day extension “as discussions continue,” pushing the date to April 20.

The toll, which costs drivers with E-ZPass $9 to enter Manhattan beneath sixtieth Avenue, has been in place since January and is on the heart of a authorized and political standoff between the MTA and the federal authorities.

Throughout President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign final Could, he vowed on social media to “terminate” this system throughout his first week in workplace. He beforehand characterised it as an enormous, regressive tax.

Duffy has agreed, calling the toll “a slap within the face to working class Individuals and small enterprise homeowners.”

In the meantime, early information suggests the toll is attaining its supposed objective: decreasing visitors and shortening commute occasions.

A March report by the Regional Plan Affiliation discovered common journey occasions in January dropped 17% by the Lincoln Tunnel and 48% by the Holland Tunnel. For commuters from Queens and Lengthy Island, the typical commute time has decreased by about 13 minutes, whereas Brooklyn and Staten Island drivers are saving roughly seven minutes.

In an announcement Tuesday, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul reiterated the information, saying, “Since congestion pricing took effect three months ago, traffic is down and business is up – and that’s the kind of progress we’re going to keep delivering for New Yorkers.”