The U.S. Transportation Department’s attempt to halt Manhattan’s congestion pricing program was illegal, a federal judge ruled Tuesday..
In place since January 2025, the first-of-its-kind congestion pricing program in the United States is designed to reduce traffic and raise money to upgrade aging subway and bus systems. With this program, drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street, the Central Business District, pay a $9 toll.
U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman, who in May issued a temporary restraining order preventing the federal government from withholding funding for New York projects over the program, issued a judgment Tuesday that the Trump administration’s effort in February 2025 to terminate the program was unlawful.
Advocates for the program hailed the ruling.
“Congestion pricing has been a once-in-a-lifetime success story. In its first year, congestion pricing has yielded huge benefits: reduced gridlock, faster trips, safer streets, and cleaner air, all while unlocking critical funding for mass transit upgrades,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a written statement.
“The judge’s decision is clear: Donald Trump’s unlawful attempts to trample on the self-governance of his home state have failed spectacularly,” she added. “Congestion pricing is legal, it works, and it is here to stay. The cameras are staying on.”
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber echoed that sentiment.
“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,” he said in a written statement.
“Traffic is down, business is up, and we’re making crucial investments in a transit system that moves millions of people a day,” he said.
Reuters contributed to this report.