Duffy Orders Halt to Congestion Pricing, N.Y. Says No

Despite the transportation secretary calling for an end to the recently implemented congestion pricing in Manhattan, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul isn’t budging. 

Sean Duffy, the new DOT secretary, sent Hochul a Feb. 19 letter explaining the rescinding of approval and that there should be “an orderly cessation of toll operations.” The next day, a letter from the Federal Highway Administration set a final date of March 21 for the tolling. 

Hochul said she has no plans to comply with the end date, emphasizing that the decision whether to have the pricing or not should be left to the state’s discretion. 

“This is part of our self determination as states,” she stated. “This was voted on by duly elected representatives of the people of New York, and you can’t overturn it without a fight from me. And that’s what we’re heading into.”  

Hochul is referring to a lawsuit filed in federal court Feb. 19 that calls for a termination of Duffy’s approval rescindment.  

“I believe we’ll be successful in the courts, and we’ll see what happens after that,” Hochul stated. 

The congestion pricing plan, which took effect Jan. 5, applies to all trucks entering Manhattan below 60th Street, with small trucks paying $14.40 and large trucks paying $21.60 during the day. At night, the tolls are 75 percent discounted, meaning $3.60 for small trucks and $5.40 for large trucks.