WASHINGTON – President Trump slammed Manhattan’s congestion pricing as a “disaster” and called on New York City to end the program “immediately.”
His latest broadside at the controversial program comes as a federal court prepares to hear arguments on whether his administration can kill it off once and for all.
The president has long made his dislike of the program known but, on Monday, he reiterated his displeasure with Gov. Kathy Hochul’s program — which charges drivers up to $27 in fees just to enter Manhattan — calling it a “foolish policy” that is “destroying” New York.
“Congestion Pricing in Manhattan is a DISASTER for New York. It’s got to be ended, IMMEDIATELY!,” he wrote on his Truth Social account.
“It’s never worked before, and it will never work now. I love New York, and hate to see it being destroyed so rapidly with such obviously foolish “policy.” Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
His administration has tried — and failed — to end the toll program, even threatening to withhold federal funding and approvals for New York projects if it doesn’t die a quick death.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is leading the charge against it, setting multiple deadlines for the city to nix it.
But the state and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority sued to block the administration from pulling the plug on the program. Judge Lewis Liman scheduled oral arguments on the case to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 28, after ruling the program stays in place while the lawsuit moves through the court system.
The first-ever congestion toll in the nation went into effect in early January, charging drivers $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street.
After a year in place, Hochul and leaders at MTA claim their program has reduced the number of vehicles in Manhattan.
But it’s also caused congestion-flation as businesses pass on their toll costs to customers.
Delivery trucks face tolls as high as $21.60 for each trip into the congestion zone below 60th Street.
And some drivers complain traffic remains terrible — it just costs more to go into the city.
