New York City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday sought a judge’s intervention to prevent the Trump administration from dismantling the city’s congestion pricing program.
Attorneys representing the city’s transportation department and the MTA urged the judge to issue an injunction against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s intentions to terminate the program, along with his warning to withhold federal government approvals for future projects, potentially affecting billions in funding.
New York State also asked for a preliminary injunction to block the federal government from blocking the program.
The city reported that travel times to enter Manhattan have significantly improved, with a 12% reduction in traffic last month, while there has been an increase in hotel stays, retail spending, and pedestrian traffic.
“Stopping the program would also mean a return to the crippling congestion that has long plagued Manhattan,” the MTA and the city wrote.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has said funds raised from the program would support $15 billion in debt financing for mass transit capital improvements.
The city said there have been about 5.8 million fewer cars than expected in the congestion zone between January and March. (Getty Images)
Last month, Duffy told Hochul that the Department of Transportation may withhold environmental approvals or project funding if the state does not eliminate congestion pricing by late May.
The department approved the congestion program in November under former President Joe Biden’s administration. DOT approval is required because it involves tolls on federal highways.
Duffy and other critics of the program argue that it pulls money from working people and leaves drivers without a free highway option.
Reuters contributed to this report.
