The federal deadline for New York City to halt its congestion pricing program passed on April 20, but the tolling system remains in place.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
The deadline for New York City to end its congestion pricing program passed yesterday
0:04
but the tolls remain in place. This is now the second time New York Governor Kathy Hochul
0:09
and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have opted not to comply with a White House
0:14
directive to suspend the tolling system. In a statement, a spokesperson for Hochul defended
0:19
the tolls, saying, quote, the program is working, traffic is down, business is up
0:24
and the cameras are staying on. The plan charges most cars entering Manhattan below 60th Street
0:29
a total of $9 during peak hours, generating nearly $50 million in January alone
0:35
80% of which is required to be spent on improvements for the city's public transit systems
0:40
However, the U.S. Department of Transportation is pushing back. On Monday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a letter to Hochul warning of, quote
0:48
serious consequences if the state does not stop the program or provide legal justification for its continuation by May 21st
0:59
funding and project approvals. Tensions over the tolling system began in February, when federal
1:04
officials revoked their earlier approval of the program, arguing it unfairly burdens working-class
1:10
Americans. In response, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the government's reversal and has indicated the tolls will remain
1:19
in place pending a formal decision from the courts, which may not come until late October
1:24
Last week, a series of legal challenges brought by consumer advocacy groups against the toll system were struck down in federal court
1:32
although these organizations have vowed to refile their suits. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation says it will continue to fight what it describes as an unlawful tax on hardworking Americans
1:43
For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Elmer
#news
#Politics
#Other


