Federal judge blocks Trump's funding freeze over congestion pricing
U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman on Tuesday barred the federal government from withholding funds from New York over the two parties' congestion toll dispute. (Sophie Nieto-Muñoz | New Jersey Monitor)
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to freeze federal funds to New York over its congestion pricing program Tuesday.
Judge Lewis Liman's temporary restraining order prevents the federal government from withholding — until at least June 9 — federal transportation funds from New York because of the city's congestion pricing tolls. The order also bars federal authorities from moving to rescind approvals for congestion pricing or otherwise terminate the program until that date.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in February moved to rescind approvals awarded to congestion pricing, saying that the program had exceeded the authority granted under a congressionally created program and that its rates were set to meet Metropolitan Transportation Authority revenue targets rather than to reduce congestion in Manhattan.
The MTA promptly sued Duffy, his department, and other federal regulators, alleging the secretary lacks the authority to unilaterally rescind federal approvals for congestion pricing, which charges $9 for cars crossing into the tolling zone, with far steeper rates for heavier vehicles.
Congestion pricing tolls are set to rise to $12 per crossing in 2028 and $15 per crossing in 2031. They are charged on top of tolls levied by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. During peak hours, car drivers with an E-ZPass pay $16.06 to enter New York through one of the Port Authority's crossings.
There is a separate federal lawsuit filed by New Jersey that is also seeking to end congestion pricing. It remains ongoing.
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Chinese couple charged with smuggling crop-killing fungus into the US
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
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