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New York has received a 30-day extension on ending its congestion pricing toll, just one day before the original deadline of Friday (March 21). Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the extension on social media, emphasizing that ongoing non-compliance with the federal order to stop the program will not be tolerated.
The congestion pricing program, which charges tolls to reduce traffic in Manhattan and fund mass transit repairs, has been a point of contention between New York and the federal government. Governor Kathy Hochul has openly defied the Trump administration's demand to end the program, stating that the cameras will remain operational. The tolls, which have been in place for 10 weeks, charge passenger cars $9 during peak hours and trucks between $14.40 and $21.60, with a 75 percent discount overnight.
According to the New York Times, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (M.T.A.) has filed a lawsuit to prevent federal interference, arguing that the federal government cannot unilaterally reverse the program approved by the Biden administration. M.T.A. Chief Executive Janno Lieber stated that the toll has been successful and there are no plans to discontinue it.
The extension is largely symbolic as the legal battle continues in federal court. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funds from the M.T.A. if compliance is not achieved. The program's future remains uncertain, with potential legal actions looming if the tolls persist beyond the new deadline.