Trump Denounces Manhattan’s Congestion Pricing
WASHINGTON – President Trump has labeled Manhattan’s congestion pricing as a “disaster” and is urging New York City to abolish the program “immediately.”
His remarks come at a time when a federal court is set to hear whether his administration can entirely scrap the program.
Trump has made his opposition to this system clear for some time, but on Monday he particularly criticized Governor Kathy Hochul’s plan, which imposes a charge of up to $27 for drivers entering Manhattan. He described it as a “stupid policy” that could “destroy” New York.
“Manhattan’s congestion pricing is a disaster for New York. It must be abolished immediately!” Trump shared on his Truth Social account.
“It has never worked before, and it will never work. I love New York, and I hate to see it rapidly destroyed by clearly stupid ‘policies’ like this. Thank you for your consideration in this matter!”
The administration has attempted to eliminate the toll program but has faced obstacles; threats to withhold federal funding from New York projects have also been made in a bid to expedite its cancellation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is spearheading efforts against the bill, setting deadlines for its repeal.
Meanwhile, the state and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have filed a lawsuit to prevent the administration from halting the project. Judge Louis Lehman is set to begin hearing arguments in the case, after ruling that the program should continue while it moves through the courts.
The first congestion charge in the nation took effect in early January, imposing a fee of $9 for drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.
A year after its implementation, Hochul and MTA leaders assert that the program has successfully reduced the volume of vehicles in Manhattan.
However, companies are reportedly creating congestion inflation by passing along costs to customers.
For instance, delivery trucks face tolls of up to $21.60 each time they enter a congestion zone below 60th Street.
Additionally, some drivers are still experiencing heavy traffic, raising concerns about just how effective the pricing truly is.
