Trump Moves to Kill Congestion Pricing. The MTA Is Suing to Save It [Updated]

The Trump administration has officially made its first move to kill congestion pricing, New York City's increasingly popular six-week-old toll on vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district, a toll on which the future of our regional transportation system heavily relies. 

In a letter sent to Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday, Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced he had rescinded federal approval of congestion pricing. Duffy also laid out the Trump administration's objections to the toll, and aimed to kick off discussions for the "orderly cessation of toll operations."

In the missive to Hochul, Duffy cited a letter sent by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to Trump asking him to kill the program as one reason behind the revocation of approval, along with some dubious legal arguments (all of which have been made and shot down in court before) for why the congestion pricing toll should not be in place. In a statement, Duffy wrote that "every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few," which conveniently ignores the fact that if congestion pricing were to end, the subway system that millions of people rely on to access the city would crumble.

Currently, however, the tolls remain. And the MTA, for its part, appears ready to fight to keep congestion pricing in place.