New York asks judge to bar Trump from killing congestion pricing program
Source: Reuters
May 6, 2025 5:23 AM EDT Updated 4 hours ago
May 5 (Reuters) - 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. Lawyers for the city's transportation department and the MTA sought an order to block Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's effort to kill the program and his threat to withhold federal government approvals for other projects and potentially billions in funding.
New York State also late Monday sought a preliminary injunction to block the federal government from blocking the program. New York launched its first-in-the-nation program in January, charging most passenger vehicles a toll of $9 during peak periods to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, in a bid to cut congestion and raise funds to improve mass transit.
New York cited President Donald Trump's social media post in February that touted his effort to killing congestion pricing with the phrase: "LONG LIVE THE KING!" The White House posted a mock photo of him on social media wearing a crown. New York City says the program has dramatically cut congestion, with about 5.8 million fewer cars than expected in the congestion zone between January and March, or an 8%-13% reduction.
Data also shows a 12% reduction in traffic in April, while travel times to cross into Manhattan have also dramatically improved, the city said, while hotel stays, retail spending and pedestrian traffic have all increased. "Stopping the program would also mean a return to the crippling congestion that has long plagued Manhattan," the MTA and city wrote.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-asks-judge-bar-trump-killing-congestion-pricing-program-2025-05-06/
Link to MOTION (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.637159/gov.uscourts.nysd.637159.82.0.pdf
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