The MTA and the Trump administration have reached an agreement that could keep New York City congestion pricing in place into the fall.
After pulling authorization of the program just weeks after it was launched, the federal government initially insisted on a March 21 deadline for the MTA to shut the cameras off. That line in the sand was eventually pushed back 30 days. However, it has since been revealed in a court filing that both parties have agreed to hold off on the April 20 deadline until at least October.
The proposed timeline would give both sides time to finalize their motions to the judge, who will then have the final say on the future of the controversial tolling program.
The Trump administration and the judge have yet to respond to the court filing.
Congestion pricing has been a success, the MTA says
The state has remained defiant all along, saying the program will continue to move forward.
During its March committee meetings, the MTA revealed that congestion pricing is showing signs of continued success. It reported that $51.9 million was collected in February from drivers entering Manhattan’s Central Business District below 60th Street, $3.3 million more than in January.
As for the type of vehicles that entered the congestion relief zone in Manhattan, 66% were passenger vehicles, 24% were taxis or for-hire vehicles, 9% were trucks, and 1% were buses and motorcycles.
In addition, the Finance Committee announced that the MTA was still on track to meet its year-end goal of $500 million, adding $78 million of that money would eventually be transferred to the so-called “lock box” for use during capital projects.
Equally as important, drivers, along with city and state officials, say the program is, indeed, reducing congestion. On Monday night in Forest Hills, Queens, some weighed in.
“It definitely does have an effect on the traffic and the amount of people that drive in,” driver Alex Flynn said.
“I think if I were still someone who had a car in New York and couldn’t afford it, I would be really, really upset, but I did a little research and apparently some of it is, I guess, working out for the economy. I don’t know, but that’s just an extra expense I wouldn’t be able to handle right now,” Brian Norton said.
Congestion pricing background
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber has praised the plan as meeting the moment.
“I hope New Yorkers, whatever their opinion, can recognize that this is a significant moment when we are saying that we can do things to address the big challenges that we as a city and a region face,” Lieber previously said. “Congestion pricing says that we’re not going to just going to keep putting our heads in the sand about the impact of congestion. We’re not going to pretend that we don’t have a limited amount on our streets. We’re going to do something about the problem that congestion is creating, and with it, improve our transit.”
The plan had been in the works for two decades.
It was backed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and over the years has been met with tremendous opposition. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio initially opposed the plan, preferring a millionaire’s tax instead, but ultimately climbed on board.
After years of planning, environmental reviews, and so on, congestion pricing was expected to start in the summer of 2024, but, just days before it was set to begin, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a pause on the plan — one which she lifted after the election, while lowering the toll from $15 to $9.
For much more on congestion pricing, click here. And for more about the program from the city, click here.
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