The Trump administration has revoked federal approval of New York’s congestion pricing tolls, effectively halting the program just one month after its implementation. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the decision Wednesday in a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, arguing that the tolls unfairly burdened motorists outside the city.
The congestion pricing plan required most vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district—from 60th Street to the southern tip of the Financial District—to pay a peak fee of $9 on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The initiative aimed to generate funds for the region’s aging mass transit system.
Duffy criticized the plan, arguing that drivers have already contributed to road infrastructure through gas and other taxes. He also noted that the tolls left motorists with no free highway alternative, forcing them to pay additional costs to support a transit system rather than road improvements.
The decision to block the tolls marks a significant setback for New York’s efforts to modernize its public transportation network. State officials had anticipated billions in revenue from the program to finance critical upgrades. However, with federal approval rescinded, the future of congestion pricing remains uncertain.
