NYC to impose congesting tolling: Can Trump stop it?

💲 New York officials race to implement congestion pricing
💲 President-elect Trump is opposed
💲 How much would New Jersey drivers pay?

UPDATED Nov. 14: NY Gov. ready to impose congestion pricing

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is expected to announce at a news conference this afternoon that she is lifting the pause on New York City's controversial congestion pricing plan.

Multiple sources are reporting Hochul will reduce the proposed $15 toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street to $9.

Hochul and city officials are racing to implement the plan before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and appear ready to implement the new tolling system before the end of the year.

The city has already installed license plate readers at entry points to Manhattan to automatically bill drivers entering the congestion zones.

New Jersey gearing up for another fight

Garden State officials have waged war against congestion tolling since it was first proposed. Gov. Phil Murphy argues it will result in more pollution and higher costs for New Jersey residents.

There are also fears it will drive thousands of more riders to New Jersey Transit at a time when most rush hour trains are already at or over capacity.

At the time Hochul announced a pause on congestion tolling, Murphy offered praise for his New York counterpart.

"Although we have had a difference of opinion on this issue," Murphy wrote on X, "Gov. Kathy Hochul and I are firmly committed to working together for all of our residents."

The most vocal critic of congestion tolling has been Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ5).

Gottheimer, who is expected to announce a run for New Jersey Governor next week, posted on X, "We stopped the Congestion Tax once and we’ll stop it again. Game on."

Gottheimer released his own study of the MTA's budget that suggested a $6 toll would more than cover expenses and a $1 billion dollar capital budget.

"I’ll be damned if I am going to let the MTA balance their mismanaged, out-of-control budget at the expense of Jersey taxpayers," the congressman said.

The Trump factor

The reason New York officials are racing to get the congestion tolling in place before Donald Trump returns to the white house is simple.

President Joe Biden signed off on and supports the plan.

President-elect Trump does not.

Trump has vowed to kill congestion pricing the first week after he returns to the White House.

If the plan is implemented before he takes the oath of office, it is not entirely clear if Trump could revoke the authorizations of the Biden administration.

The previous version of this story is below

Several New York Democrats are rushing to put congestion pricing tolls in place before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

In what was a politically expedient move, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul killed the $15 toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street to prevent the issue from dragging down fellow Democrats in mid-term elections.

The tolls were scheduled to go into effect last summer and the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority has been counting on the revenue from congestion pricing to fund a multi-billion dollar capital improvement plan.

At the time she stopped the plan, Hochul said she worried about the cost and the extra burden to commuters.

The fee would have come on top of the already hefty tolls to enter the city via some river crossings, and Republicans were expected to use it as a cudgel in an election heavily focused on cost-of-living issues.

Congestion pricing prices (Canva)

Trump hates congestion pricing

During his successful campaign to return to the White House, Donald Trump vowed to kill congestion pricing.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump said, "Congestion Pricing” is a disaster for NYC. A massive business killer and tax on New Yorkers, and anyone going into Manhattan."

Trump Tower is located in the higher tolling zone in Manhattan.

If Hochul and New York City Democrarts are sucessful in implimenting a revised tolling plan, they will have to do it in hte next two months.

Even if they are sucessful, the plan may have a short life.

Trump has vowed, ". I will terminate congestion pricing in my first week back in Office!!! Manhattan is looking for business, not looking to kill business!"

A cheaper toll?

If Hochul does revive congestion pricing, it unlikely will be at the $15 per trip level that was previously approved. Hochal has repeatedly said the toll was too high.

One of the most vocal critics of the cost is New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-5). He produced a study that showed the toll could be reduced to $5 and still produce the $1 billion the MTA claims it needs.

Funds received by the MTA and spent, according to research by Rep. Josh Gottheimer. (Rep. Josh Gottheimer)

The MTA has disputed Gottheimer's calculations and claims lowering the toll would not only cause a budget shortfall, it would not act as a strong deterrent to keep cars out of the busiest parts of Manhattan.

Gov. Hochul has privately floated a $9 congestion pricing toll, but her office has not confirmed that's the number she has settled on.

The problem for Hochul is that any changes to the plan would require another approval from everyone involved, including Federal state and local officials.

With Trump set to return to Washington in less than two months, that could be a tough sell.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

These are the most and least expensive toll roads in the U.S.

According to data compiled by Uproad, these are the highways across the country that charge the most and least to drive as of 2023. Officials in the state listed as the most expensive, however, say the data is incorrect and they provided the information to back it up.

Gallery Credit: Mike Brant