Trump administration calls for NYC congestion pricing tolls to stop by March 21
If the Trump administration gets its way, the end of New York City congestion pricing will come during the third week of March.
Federal Highway Administration Executive Director Gloria Shepherd wrote to the heads of the New York State Department of Transportation, the New York City DOT, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels, saying collection of tolls on federal-aid highways must cease by March 21.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA filed a lawsuit in response to last week's announcement by the federal government that it is pulling its approval of congestion pricing.
It's not clear whether congestion pricing will actually come to an end by March 21 as Shepherd's letter demands. A court ruling may keep the program in place, at least temporarily.
Regardless, Hochul and MTA CEO and Chairman Janno Lieber had a message for the White House: See you in court.
"Secretary Duffy can send as many letters as he'd like, but the cameras are staying on. The MTA has already filed a lawsuit and we expect to be victorious," a spokesperson for the governor said.
Lieber echoed that sentiment at a Wednesday afternoon press conference.
"The important thing is there is going to be no cessation unless a court orders it. We're very, very optimistic about where this next one is headed," Lieber said.
Hochul proposes "orderly resistance"
President Trump's attempt to end the program was top of mind at the MTA board meeting earlier Wednesday. Hochul was on hand and spoke about her trip to the White House to try to convince the administration to reconsider pulling the plug of the controversial tolling plan.
Hochul called the visit with the president "interesting," and explained how she tried to highlight all the positives congestion pricing has already produced. But she said she came away from the meeting thinking the courts will probably be the city's best course of action to keep the tolling plan in place.
"We're not done. We are in court. We have said that you may have asked for 'orderly cessation,' that was the phrase that came in the letter to us, 'orderly cessation.' I will propose something in the alternative: 'orderly resistance.' We will keep standing up for New Yorkers," Hochul said.
The governor said there is a "huge disconnect" between the reality New Yorkers face every day and the White House's perception of that reality.
"I guarantee that the president has never had to endure missing a child's sporting event because they were stuck on a delayed train. Never had to stand in a flooded subway station because we were not able to make the repairs. Not sitting in traffic, missing an important meeting because you couldn't get around," Hochul said. "That is the reality of New Yorkers that we're solving for. That is our mission. That is why we cannot be deterred from what we're doing here because we know the people of this great city and region deserve the best.
"And when someone tries to say, 'No, we have another vision for your city,' we just have to stand up and say we respectfully disagree, and take that to the courts, take it to the people. Because I know there is a lot of power in that Oval Office, but I'll put that power up against the power of 6 million pissed off commuters in New York City right there alone," Hochul added.
What the early numbers show about congestion pricing
The MTA says in the month of January, alone, congestion pricing tolls brought in nearly $49 million, including $10.6 million from for-hire vehicles. Of the remaining $38 million, 85% was for passenger vehicles and 15% was for trucks, buses and motorcycles.
The latest numbers released this week also show a more than 36% drop in major felony crimes, including murder, rape and robbery, across the system compared to January of last year, along with a 73% rise in arrests. The transit agency credits more officers riding trains and working overnight shifts, as well as new fare evasion spikes on turnstiles.
The MTA hopes to maintain these numbers with more safety measures systemwide as part of its capital plan.
