Trump Transit Sec Sean Duffy cancels Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing plan for New York City

Commuters, Duffy said per the New York Post, are already subsidizing the cost of roads, construction and infrastructure upkeep through their taxes at the federal, state and local level. Hochul implemented the program, which charges drivers under 60th Street in Manhattan $9 for the privilege, after cutting the toll down from her originally proposed $15, calling the reduced fare a savings. The toll was implemented on November 21 under what Hochul called the Value Pricing Pilot Program.

"But now the toll program 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," Duffy said. The program as it stands provides no alternative for drivers who must drive in that area of the city. The federal highway aid program, Duffy said, prohibits the implementation of tolls on roads that were funded with federal money unless Congress creates a carveout or exception.

"Every American should be able to access New York City regardless of their economic means. It shouldn’t be reserved for an elite few," Duffy continued. He also took issue with the way the funds from the congestion pricing program would be used, namely to fund public transit as opposed to for the maintenance of roads.

By 2031 under the plan, the tolls would hit the $15 that Hochul originally wanted. The funds were intended to be used to raise $15 billion in bonds to maintain the trains and buses. Lawsuits and complaints were already underway before Duffy got involved, notably from New Jersey elected leaders who don't want to see their constituents taxed extra just for working in Manhattan. MTA CEO Janno Lieber, however, feels certain that the courts would uphold the congestion pricing plan.

In 1991, Duffy notes, Congress had approved pilot plans of this kind for the purpose of reducing congestion, but in making his determination, he said that after taking the concerns of New Jersey's leaders under advisement, he believes that the program may not stand up to legal challenges.

"The recent imposition of this CBDTP pilot project upon residents, businesses, and commuters left highway users without any free highway alternative on which to travel within the relevant area. Moreover, the revenues generated under this pilot program are directed toward the transit system as opposed to the highways. I do not believe that this is a fair deal," Duffy said.

Duffy's two reasons for squashing the program are that the program uses "uses a method of tolling known as 'cordon pricing,' under which drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th Street are charged tolls no matter what roads they use. Unlike other forms of tolling, the CBDTP's cordon pricing program provides no toll-free option for many drivers who want or need to travel by vehicle in this major urbanized area."

And that the imposition of tolls "appears to be driven primarily by the need to raise revenue for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) system as opposed to the need to reduce congestion."

"Federal-aid infrastructure projects must be carried out in compliance with Federal law. Due to

my conclusion that FHWA lacked statutory authority to approve the cordon pricing tolling under

the CBDTP pilot project," Duffy said, "I am rescinding FHWA's approval of the CBDTP pilot project under the November 21 Agreement and terminating the Agreement. I recognize that FHWA under the prior Administration concluded, when executing the November 21 Agreement, that the CBDTP was

eligible for approval under VPPP, and that my determination represents a change in position."

NYC Congestion Pricing Axed by Trump Transit Sec Sean Duffy by The Post Millennial on Scribd