United States: On Monday evening New York City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority requested a federal judge to halt the Trump administration from ending Manhattan’s congestion pricing initiative.
The transportation department’s attorneys and the MTA’s legal team asked a U.S. judge to stop Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy from terminating the congestion pricing program and his threat to deny approval for various projects and strip away billions in federal funds, as reported by Reuters.
New York State initiated a last-minute request for a preliminary injunction that aimed to stop the federal government from disrupting the congestion pricing program.
Congestion Pricing Under Threat
Passenger vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street must now pay $9 tolls under New York’s pioneer congestion pricing initiative launched in January as the city aims to reduce traffic congestion and gather funds for better transportation systems.
New York cited President Donald Trump’s social media post in February that touted his effort to kill congestion pricing with the phrase: “LONG LIVE THE KING!” The White House shared a fake image of him sporting a royal crown through social media channels.
The city of New York and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority asked a U.S. judge late on Monday to block the Trump administration from killing Manhattan's congestion pricing program. https://t.co/nQXoXqYTlU
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) May 6, 2025
Traffic Drops, Local Business Grows
Data from the congestion pricing program reveals that New York saw 5.8 million fewer vehicles than projections in the designated zone from January to March, resulting in an 8%-13% reduction in traffic volume.
The April traffic statistics indicate a 12% decrease, as reported by the city, and Manhattan crossings now take shorter times compared to previous months. Simultaneously hotel stays along with retail shopping and pedestrians in the area all reported growth.
“Stopping the program would also mean a return to the crippling congestion that has long plagued Manhattan,” the MTA and city wrote.
Transit Upgrades at Stake
The funds collected through this program will support $15 billion in debt financing aimed at crucial mass transit capital improvement projects according to New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Duffy issued an April warning to New York Governor Kathy Hochul that USDOT might pull environmental approval and funding if the state doesn’t stop congestion pricing by late May.
During November, the USDOT under President Joe Biden approved congestion pricing, which utilizes electronic license plate readers for monitoring the system. The project needs U.S. approval because it requires toll collection on federal highways, as reported by Reuters.
The United States program maintains a similar structure to programs operating in London and Singapore. Opposition led by Duffy argues the plan would steal funds from working families and deny motorists a cost-free highway access.