Congestion fees in NYC, managed by the MTA, are still being enforced as a legal dispute persists in court.
In a move to defend New York's congestion pricing program, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has filed a lawsuit against the federal government in response to a notice regarding the program's congestion pricing program. This action comes after the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Trump administration moved to rescind federal approval for the program.
Janno Lieber, the MTA Chair and CEO, has been vocal in his defense of the program. He reported a 9 percent drop in traffic since its implementation and highlighted economic gains, including a rise in restaurant reservations, increased pedestrian activity, and a surge in commercial office leasing. Lieber also emphasized that the federal government does not have the right to terminate the congestion pricing program, arguing that it is a pragmatic, locally driven solution to traffic management in one of the world's most densely populated cities.
Governor Kathy Hochul, too, has expressed her support for the program. She framed the federal action as an unprecedented overreach, arguing that New York's right to govern its own transportation policy was under attack. Hochul vowed to keep the program operational, affirming that cameras would remain active and that the state would aggressively contest the move in court.
The Secretary's letter did not instruct the MTA to stop the cameras immediately, but requested a conversation about turning them off. However, Lieber stated that the MTA will not turn off the cameras. He argued that the federal government's actions were politically motivated and did not comply with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) procedures, which require notice-and-comment rulemaking, consideration of environmental impacts, and compliance with relevant statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when environmental reviews are involved.
The benefits of New York's congestion pricing program, according to both Hochul and Lieber, include reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality, and enhanced public transit reliability. The governor dismissed the administration's justification for rescinding approval, which cited opposition from New Jersey officials, as improper interference in a state decision.
The MTA will continue to collect congestion-pricing tolls, and Lieber expressed confidence that the MTA's case is strong and they will win. He made these comments during an interview on NY1's Mornings on 1.
[1] Source: [Link to the official document or news article]
- The lawsuit filed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) against the federal government in response to a notice on the congestion pricing program is supported by MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, who believes the program, which has resulted in a 9 percent drop in traffic, economic gains, and improved traffic management, should not be terminated by the federal government.
- Governor Kathy Hochul, also a supporter of the congestion pricing program, characterizes the federal government's move to rescind federal approval as an unprecedented overreach, arguing that the right to govern transportation policy in New York is being challenged.
- Both Hochul and Lieber believe the congestion pricing program offers benefits such as reduced traffic congestion, improved air quality, and enhanced public transit reliability, and argue that the federal government's justification for rescinding the program's approval by citing opposition from New Jersey officials is improper interference in a state decision.
