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Nation’s First Congestion Pricing Program To End?


According to multiple outlets, President Trump is considering halting New York City’s congestion pricing program.

CBS News reports that Trump and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul have spoken twice in the past week about ending congestion pricing.

The controversial program imposes a base daytime fee of $9 on vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street.

The fee drops to $2.25 during overnight hours.

Many working-class New Yorkers and those who transit from places like New Jersey said the initiative is an unnecessary tax.

Nation’s First Congestion Pricing Plan Begins

Per CBS News:

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During the conversation, Hochul told Mr. Trump that initial data shows congestion pricing was working, and made the case for keeping the program, the source told Kramer.

Hochul tried to convince him the program is making a big difference in New York, not only raising much-needed cash for the area's aging transportation system, but reducing traffic and speeding commutes.

According to the MTA, the congestion pricing program has already resulted in 1 million fewer vehicles entering the most congested parts of Manhattan since it started on Jan. 5, and reduced travel times on inbound bridges and tunnels by 10-30%.

"America's economy relies on New York City, and New York City relies on public transit -- that's why Gov. Hochul will always advocate for funding the commuter rail, subways and buses that fuel the economic growth of the greatest city in the world," a spokesperson for Hochul said.

Mr. Trump told Hochul he wouldn't take any action to stop it without speaking with her first, and that they would talk again next week, the source said.

From The New York Times:

The Department of Transportation is discussing whether to withdraw a key federal authorization that the tolling plan received from the Biden administration last year. Such a move would almost certainly touch off a legal battle between the state and federal government, and could effectively kill congestion pricing in its infancy.

No final decision has been made but President Trump had vowed to halt congestion pricing when he entered office, saying it was harmful to the city’s economy. The program’s opponents have urged Mr. Trump to re-examine it, with Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey calling it “a disaster for working- and middle-class New Jersey commuters and residents” in a letter to Mr. Trump last week.

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The tolling program, which is meant to provide funding for public transit, started on Jan. 5 after surviving a number of lawsuits seeking to block it and a last-minute suspension by Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York in June.

WATCH:

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.



 

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