The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)’s congestion pricing policy south of 60th Street in Manhattan, which is the United States’ first traffic congestion toll plan, was temporarily suspended by New York Governor Hochul. Several lawsuits opposing the plan have been recently dismissed by a judge, indicating that the battle between supporters and opponents of the plan is still ongoing, raising concerns about whether it will ultimately be implemented.
The congestion pricing plan, originally scheduled to take effect on June 30, stipulated that drivers entering the area south of 60th Street in Manhattan between 5 am and 9 pm would have to pay $15 per day, while nighttime fees would be $3.75. Small trucks would be charged $24, and large trucks $36 for congestion fees.
Opponents of the plan filed legal challenges, including lawsuits from the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), residents of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and Battery Park City. The lawsuit from New York City’s teachers’ union argued that the environmental impact of this fee policy had not been properly reviewed.
However, on Thursday (June 20), Manhattan federal judge Liman rejected the main part of the teachers’ union lawsuit, stating that he could not “agree” that the review process had not “carefully examined” the environmental impact on the New York metropolitan area. He also dismissed the argument in the lawsuit that the fees would shift traffic congestion and pollution to the surrounding areas of Manhattan.
MTA commended the ruling, viewing it as a significant victory. Earlier this month, when New York Governor Hochul halted the plan, she stated that imposing congestion fees would impose a heavy economic burden on drivers and could hinder Manhattan’s recovery from the pandemic.
On June 21, she mentioned on CNBC that the congestion pricing was too high, saying, “A $15 toll is not appropriate. It doesn’t mean it’s gone forever, but let’s keep a level head.” She believed that all employees who cannot work remotely and must commute to offices in Manhattan should ensure that the costs do not burden them. She plans to devise alternative policy details to secure funding for all essential transportation projects.
While Judge Liman dismissed the main allegations by the United Federation of Teachers, other parts of the suit remain valid.
In addition, New Jersey Governor Murphy has also filed a lawsuit against the congestion pricing plan, arguing that imposing congestion fees would harm the interests of commuters from New Jersey to Manhattan. Currently, this lawsuit is still being heard in the Newark federal court.