The Battle Over NYC Congestion Pricing Resumes In Court: What To Know

NEW YORK CITY — A federal judge will hear arguments from the Trump administration and MTA over the future of congestion pricing in New York City on Wednesday.

A final ruling on the program was initially expected by the end of last year but was pushed back a month later.

The MTA has sued the Trump administration over the future of congestion pricing after the Department of Transportation revoked federal authorization of the toll.

President Donald Trump had initially given the MTA until March 18 to end the program and tolls to allow for an "orderly cessation." That deadline went and passed, with Governor Kathy Hochul along with MTA officials saying the tolls would continue to stay on.

In an attempt to pressure the city to end the program, U.S. DOT Chief Sean Duffy threatened to hold up funds for some federally funded road projects in the city.

US District Judge Lewis Liman will hear opening arguments on Wednesday, with both sides seeking a ruling in their favor without a trial.

Since the toll began last year, speeds on Manhattan crossings are up 23 percent and air pollution is the congestion zone is down 22 percent.

In addition, the city saw a 6.3 percent increase in sales tax revenue and office leasing rose by 9.2 percent, officials said.

The funds from the toll will help the LIRR and Metro-North get 300 new train cars and the MTA plans to purchase 400+ subway cars, and make 23 subway stations more accessible.

Projects like modernize signals on the A and C lines, along with paying for the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway, will also be funded.

In September 2025, officials touted that nearly 18 million fewer vehicles entered Manhattan since congestion pricing began.

On Jan. 5, 2025, drivers began paying $9 to drive into the congestion zone during peak hours. The zone runs from 60th Street to the lower tip of Manhattan.

President Trump has been vocal about killing the program, calling it "ridiculous" in a previous Truth Social post.

"People have to pay a fortune to come into Manhattan - So they just don’t come!" he wrote.