Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning to New York Governor Kathy Hochul regarding the state’s congestion pricing toll. According to a letter accessed by Fox News, Duffy stated that New York could face “serious consequences” if the toll is not terminated by May 21. The letter gives New York an additional month to either cease the $9 fee imposed on most vehicles entering the core of Manhattan south of Central Park or justify its legality. If the state fails to comply, it risks losing federal funding and approvals for certain projects managed by the Federal Highway Administration.
Duffy commented that the federal government provides significant funding to New York, but they are unwilling to support what he describes as “an illegal toll” that compensates for the state’s struggling transit system budget. Initially, the deadline to stop the toll was set for March 21. However, after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority contested Duffy’s decision in federal court, he extended the deadline to April 20, offering the state one more chance to either rescind the toll or prove its legality.
Supporters of the congestion pricing toll assert that it aims to address Manhattan’s well-known traffic congestion. The fee, which varies by vehicle type and time of day, typically charges passenger cars $9 to enter areas south of Central Park during peak hours on weekdays and weekends.
Governor Hochul has expressed her determination to uphold the congestion pricing toll, despite opposition, including from former President Donald Trump, who pledged to end the program. Hochul has previously had discussions with Trump about this initiative and remains committed to its continuation.
