A federal judge has blocked an effort by Donald Trump’s administration to shut down congestion pricing in New York City, allowing the controversial toll program to stay in place for now.
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The ruling came after the administration tried to revoke federal approval for the congestion pricing system, which charges drivers a fee to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours. The program launched in early 2025 and is designed to reduce traffic and raise money for transit upgrades.
In his decision, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman said federal transportation officials did not have the authority to cancel the program after it had already been approved.
That means congestion pricing will continue operating while legal and political battles around the program move forward.
The toll system was created by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ease gridlock in one of Manhattan’s busiest areas. Passenger vehicles typically pay about $9 to enter the congestion zone during peak periods.
Supporters say the program is already having an impact. State officials say millions of vehicles have been kept out of the busiest parts of Manhattan since the program launched, helping reduce traffic and raise hundreds of millions of dollars for subway and bus improvements.
Critics, however, argue that the tolls unfairly burden commuters, delivery companies, and truck drivers who rely on the city’s roads to do business.
The Trump administration had argued that the toll program placed an unfair cost on drivers using federally funded highways and threatened to withhold transportation funding if the system stayed in place.
The judge rejected that argument and ruled that federal officials could not simply withdraw approval for the program.
In the logistics and supply chain world, congestion pricing has been closely watched for its potential impact on freight deliveries, trucking costs, and last-mile transportation into Manhattan.
Truck drivers entering the congestion zone face higher tolls than passenger vehicles, and some companies say those costs are already being passed along through higher delivery fees.
At the same time, supporters of the program say fewer cars in Manhattan could eventually make deliveries faster by reducing gridlock.
The legal fight over congestion pricing is likely not over. Federal officials have indicated they are reviewing the ruling and considering whether to appeal.
For now, though, the toll cameras will keep running, and congestion pricing will remain in place.
