Transportation Secretary Duffy Tries To Kill New York City’s Congestion Toll
The bell may be tolling for New York City’s congestion toll.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has sent New York Governor Kathy Hochul a letter ordering her to end the tolling program that applies to Manhattan from 60th street south as soon as possible. Tolling began on January 5.
The program was instituted with approval from the D.O.T., as it involves routes built with federal highway funds, which can only be tolled if the federal government gives the O.K.
Duffy’s letter stated that it was considered a pilot and that the two main issues were the lack of a toll-free route into the congestion zone and that the program was designed primarily to fund mass transit systems, rather than reduce congestion.
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“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. It’s backwards and unfair,” Duffy said in a news release.
“The program also hurts small businesses in New York that rely on customers from New Jersey and Connecticut. Finally, it impedes the flow of commerce into New York by increasing costs for trucks, which in turn could make goods more expensive for consumer. Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few.”
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Duffy’s letter said that the Federal Highway Administration will contact the New York Department of Transportation and “its project sponsors to discuss the orderly cessation of toll operations under this terminated pilot project.”
“Ever since congestion pricing started, traffic has decreased. Commuters are getting to work faster. Foot traffic to local businesses is spiking. I’m not going to let some wannabe king undermine our public transit system,” Gov. Hochul wrote on X.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has filed a lawsuit to block the D.O.T.’s move.
This breaking story has been updated with additional information
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