After less than two months of being in effect, the New York Congestion Pricing Program (CPP) is set to be terminated by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
According the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the CPP was intended to lessen traffic congestion in New York City.
The most controversial part of the program included a daily $9 surcharge for drivers entering Manhattan anywhere below 60th street. This street is one street above where Central Park begins, thereby including most of the popular areas of Manhattan. (See image below, taken from the MTA website):
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced the termination of the program in a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. In his letter, Duffy addressed President Donald Trump’s concern with tolling and its effect on New Yorkers and those commuting into the city from nearby states:
“In particular, the President expressed his concerns about the extent of the tolling that was approved by the Department of Transportation on highways that have been constructed with funds under the Federal-aid Highway Program and the significant burdens on the New York City residents, businesses, and area commuters (including those from New Jersey and Connecticut) who regularly use the highway network in the CBD tolling area.”
The DOT claims that toll money has been directed exclusively toward renovating the MTA transit system, instead of managing traffic congestion as it was intended to. The letter further stated that the program “runs contrary to the purpose of the VPPP (Value Pricing Pilot Program), which is to impose tolls for congestion reduction — not transit revenue generation.”
As with the President, Secretary Duffy believes that New York City should be accessible to every American regardless of economic status. The toll charge makes the city less accessible, especially for New Yorkers driving into the city from other boroughs.
Moreover, the $9 surcharge is only for those driving regular vehicles. Small trucks must pay $14.40, while larger trucks are charged $21.60.
However, nighttime fees are lesser for all vehicles.
The main way of paying the toll is through an E-Z Pass Transponder. After driving through a toll zone, a fee is sent to a driver’s E-Z Pass Account. Vehicles without an account will have a bill sent directly to the address that comes up on their license plates.
Many New Yorkers have resorted to “ducking” the toll surcharge in order to not pay it. According to the New York Post, some drivers have manipulated their license plates to prevent the MTA toll scanner from detecting their vehicles and thus avoid having to pay the toll.
After the DOT’s announcement, President Trump commented on Truth Social: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
Governor Hochul was defensive of the Congestion Program in response to the DOT’s decision:
“Since this first-in-the-nation program took effect last month, congestion has dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever… Transit ridership is up, drivers are having a better experience, and support for this program is growing every day. We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We’ll see you in court.”
