- USDOT Secretary Rescinds FHWA Approval Of MTA Congestion Pricing Program
- Federal Announcement About Congestion Pricing Faces Swift And Vigorous Response
- Florida's Turnpike Schedules Public Hearing On Mainline Widening Proposal
- MTA Schedules Two Capital Plan Presentations
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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USDOT Secretary Rescinds FHWA Approval Of MTA Congestion Pricing Program
The Trump administration moved to end the MTA congestion pricing program this afternoon.
In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy stated he is terminating FHWA approval of the program and FHWA officials will be in contact with state authorities “to discuss the orderly cessation of toll operations under this terminated pilot project.”
Formally, Duffy rescinded the November 2024 Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) agreement among state and federal agencies that authorized initiation of the tolling initiative. He stated that an evaluation of the program he conducted at Trump’s direction led him to conclude that it “exceeds the authority authorized by Congress under VPPP” for two reasons. First, it deprives motorists of any toll-free access to the Manhattan congestion zone. Secondly, the primary motivation for tolling appears to be revenue generation rather than congestion reduction. Duffy acknowledged that he took into consideration public concerns raised by Trump and legal issues raised by New Jersey’s governor and other litigants challenging FHWA and MTA in court.
For the most part, Duffy’s letter is a formal, legalistic explanation for his action. Not so the accompanying news release. In it, the secretary calls the program “a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners” who are required to pay tolls to use Manhattan infrastructure they have already financed with their taxes. It “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.” He adds, “Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few.”
MTA immediately filed a challenge to Duffy’s decision in federal court.
Congestion Pricing Environmental Protection Policies Procedures And Initiatives ETC Systems Issues of Law Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New Jersey New York New York City New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) US Department of Transportation (USDOT)Federal Announcement About Congestion Pricing Faces Swift And Vigorous Response
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.
Congestion Pricing Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York City US Department of Transportation (USDOT)Florida's Turnpike Schedules Public Hearing On Mainline Widening Proposal
In an announcement dated February 13 that wasn’t posted online until today, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) gave notice of two public hearings on a proposal to widen the turnpike mainline (SR 91) from SR 70 to SR 60 in St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Osceola counties. A virtual hearing took place yesterday. An in-person session is scheduled for tomorrow evening, February 20, at the Intergenerational Recreation Center in Vero Beach. Details are included in the belated announcement.
According to a project website, FTE is conducting a project development and environment study based on its identification of a need to widen the turnpike segment. The proposed expansion “will accommodate future traffic volumes of freight and passenger vehicles linked to the projected growth in population and industry for the year 2045.” Additional information can be found in a virtual public meeting exhibit room linked to the website.
Florida Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Osceola County (Florida)MTA Schedules Two Capital Plan Presentations
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will host both a webinar and in-person forum on investment priorities in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan with an emphasis on subway system projects. The webinar, a public feedback opportunity that will include a presentation on the $68.4 billion capital plan, is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, starting at 12:00 PM. The in-person forum will be held next Wednesday, February 26, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at MTA Headquarters, 2 Broadway. That event will include a capital plan presentation by MTA Construction and Development plus a guided discussion and feedback session focusing on subway projects.
MTA notes that a major focus of the capital program is improving subway system operating reliability, safety, and accessibility.
Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York CityThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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