NEW YORK CITY —The Trump administration has continued its fight against congestion pricing in New York City and have appealed a federal judge's decision in March that kept the program running.
Attorneys for the Department of Justice filed a two-page memo on Friday disclosing their intent to appeal the decision to the Second Circuit.
On March 3, the city and the MTA netted an important victory in its quest to protect congestion pricing after Judge Lewis Liman ruled that the Trump administration's move to end the program was illegal.
Liman sided with New York City and the MTA in a 149-page decision.
In his ruling, Liman said that the "Defendants’ termination of the [federal authorization] was unlawful, and that any attempt to enforce the February 19 or April 21 Letter would be unlawful."
The MTA had sued the Trump administration over the future of congestion pricing after the Department of Transportation revoked federal authorization of the toll.
"Congestion pricing is working – fewer cars, less pollution, faster commutes. Secretary Duffy has already lost in court and if he wants to see us there again, let's go," MTA’s chief of policy John McCarthy said in a statement.
President Donald Trump had initially given the MTA until March 18, 2025, 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.
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.
Drivers are required to pay $9 to drive into the congestion zone during peak hours. The zone runs from 60th Street to the lower tip of Manhattan.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
New York City, NY Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.