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Feds give NYC congestion pricing 30-day extension, slamming Gov. Hochul's 'open disrespect'
By
Liam Quigley
Published Mar 20, 2025
Modified Mar 20, 2025
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Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
By
Liam Quigley
Published Mar 20, 2025
Modified Mar 20, 2025
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The Trump administration said on Thursday it would extend its deadline for the MTA to kill its congestion pricing tolls by 30 days so that negotiations with Gov. Kathy Hochul's office over the tolling program could continue.
President Donald Trump last month issued an ultimatum demanding the MTA turn off its congestion pricing cameras by Friday. Hochul and the MTA have fiercely defended the tolls, saying they’re working as intended and that the federal government’s effort amounts to an unlawful infringement on states' rights. The MTA filed a lawsuit challenging the order and Hochul vowed to keep the tolls on until a judge rules otherwise. In recent days, the dispute devolved into a social media spat.
“Your refusal to end cordon pricing and your open disrespect towards the federal government is unacceptable,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X, using transportation jargon to describe the tolling program. “Your unlawful pricing scheme charges working-class citizens to use roads their federal tax dollars already paid to build.”
The congestion pricing program, which charges drivers a base fee of $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, has reduced traffic and sped up travel times since it was implemented in January, according to the MTA.
“We will provide New York with a 30-day extension as discussions continue. Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check. Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly,” Duffy wrote.
MTA spokesperson John McCarthy wrote in a statement that "the status quo remains for congestion pricing.
"As we’ve said, there was exhaustive study, projected benefits were right, and we can’t go back to gridlock,” McCarthy's statement said.
On Wednesday, New York state’s official account taunted Duffy for posting a video criticizing public safety on New York City subways that used footage of subways in Tokyo.
“btdubs the cameras are staying on byeeeeeeee,” New York state tweeted.
Hochul spokesperson Avi Small reiterated that in a statement.
"Congestion pricing is working. Traffic is down, business is up and support for this first-in-the-nation initiative continues to grow. We’ve seen Secretary Duffy’s tweet, which doesn’t change what Governor Hochul has been saying all along: the cameras are staying on," Small said.
City Comptroller Brad Lander vowed on Thursday to continue fighting the federal government and said the MTA was not going to turn off the cameras.
“They [the MTA] don't intend to turn it off. The federal government doesn't have a switch or a key to the system,” he said.
State law requires the revenue brought in from congestion pricing tolls to finance $15 billion worth of crucial repairs to the city's mass transit systems.
Tagged
new york state
new york city
manhattan
Politics
transportation
Liam Quigley
Liam Quigley is a reporter covering parks & sanitation for Gothamist and WNYC. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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