Congestion Battle: Judge Barres USDOT From Withholding Funds For NYC

By Idy Perl

The Trump administration has suffered yet another setback in their battle against the congestion toll in NYC. 

U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a temporary restraining order today against the Department of Transportation after they threatened to withhold federal funds and approvals for various transportation projects in Manhattan as long as the congestion toll continues.

In April, the deadline for the program was extended to October while the MTA and USDOT prepare for their court battle, but the Transportation Department tried forcing Hochul to close the program until the court date by threatening to withhold funds for other programs. 

"The federal government sends billions to New York - but we won’t foot the bill if Governor Hochul continues to implement an illegal toll to backfill the budget of New York’s failing transit system," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. "We are giving New York one last chance to turn back or prove their actions are not illegal."

Duffy gave Governor Hochul until May 21st to respond, and warned that they would start taking action tomorrow, May 28. 

Today’s court ruling barres the Transportation Department from withholding funds while the congestion toll remains in place… at least until October. 

“Congestion pricing is legal, it’s working, and we’re keeping the cameras on,” Governor Hochul said today in a statement.