U.S. DOT’s Efforts to Halt Congestion Pricing Program Unlawful According to U.S. Judge Ruling
A federal judge ruled today, March 3, that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s attempt to kill the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Congestion Tolling program was unlawful. The order from Manhattan U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman stated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy doesn’t have the authority to revoke federal approval for the program. The feds approved the congestion tolls under former President Joe Biden, and the MTA launched the program in early January 2025. It imposes a $9 daytime base fee on drivers who enter Manhattan south of 60th Street and uses the revenue to fund mass transit improvements. In response, MTA Chair Janno Lieber reportedly wrote in a statement, “We’ve said it all along, and Judge Liman’s clear, detailed ruling leaves no doubt: congestion pricing is legal. It’s here to stay. And it works. Traffic is down, business is up, and we’re making crucial investments in a transit system that moves millions of people a day.”