The move is a blow to officials in New York City and New York state, including Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who touted the toll program as reducing both traffic congestion and air pollution.
Some proponents also say the plan will have climate benefits.
However, opponents of the plan, including President Trump and Democrats in neighboring states such as New Jersey, say that the plan imposed unnecessary costs on commuters.
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.
“Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes. But now the toll program leaves drivers without any free highway alternative, and instead, takes more money from working people to pay for a transit system and not highways,” he added.
In response, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority sued the Trump administration.
“Today, the MTA filed papers in federal court to ensure that the highly successful program – which has already dramatically reduced congestion, bringing reduced traffic and faster travel times, while increasing speeds for buses and emergency vehicles – will continue notwithstanding this baseless effort to snatch those benefits away from the millions of mass transit users, pedestrians and, especially, the drivers who come to the Manhattan Central Business District,” said MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber in a statement.
Read more at TheHill.com.
