The New York Times reports, after receiving word that USDOT is revoking approval of MTA congestion pricing, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement supporting the program’s goals and early accomplishments that added, “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.”
Her comment about kingship was a retort to a provocative social media message dispatched by President Trump: “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”
Other early reactions to USDOT Secretary Duffy’s recission announcement were, as reported in The Times, predictable. Supporters of the project suggested the federal action was unprecedented and illegal and would be overturned in court. Transit advocates “expressed outrage.” Members of Congress who opposed tolling from the outset emphasized that Trump held to an election campaign pledge to remove a burden on “hardworking, taxpaying commuters.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber released a brief statement shortly after Secretary Duffy’s letter became public. He confirmed that the agency has already filed pleadings in federal court to ensure that tolling will continue “notwithstanding this baseless effort to snatch those benefits away from the millions of mass transit users, pedestrians and, especially, the drivers who come to the Manhattan Central Business District.” He added, “It’s mystifying that after four years and 4,000 pages of federally-supervised environmental review – and barely three months after giving final approval to the Congestion Relief Program – USDOT would seek to totally reverse course.”
NJ.com reports that Trump and Duffy have “ignit[ed] a firestorm” and “sparked major backlash from state and local officials” in New York. Comments from lawmakers representing the city — mostly Democrats — echoed predictions that the courts will eventually invalidate the Trump administration’s attempt to halt the program.
Gothamist and amNY are also covering this controversy’s early developments.