Trump’s Silence on NYC Congestion Pricing Sparks Concern
- Four days into his second term, President Donald Trump has yet to make good on his campaign promise to "TERMINATE" congestion pricing—a key funding stream for New York...
- Experts remain uncertain about Trump's ability to cancel the tolls via an executive order.
- Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, told Gothamist, "I think it's still an open risk that the administration will try to interfere with congestion pricing.
President Trump’s Silence on Congestion Pricing Raises Concerns
Four days into his second term, President Donald Trump has yet to make good on his campaign promise to "TERMINATE" congestion pricing—a key funding stream for New York City’s ailing mass transit system. The tolls, launched on Jan 5, are expected to generate $15 billion for the MTA‘s repair and upgrade plans.
Experts remain uncertain about Trump’s ability to cancel the tolls via an executive order. An act of Congress, as suggested by some New York Republicans, could potentially end the program. Supporters, however, are hopeful that early success in reducing Manhattan gridlock will make the tolls politically untouchable.
Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, told Gothamist, "I think it’s still an open risk that the administration will try to interfere with congestion pricing. The state doesn’t have much time to prove to a broad array of New Yorkers that it’s working well and should be immune from interference."
Trump’s record on MTA funding during his first term is less than stellar. He held up routine bureaucracy for congestion pricing, federal grants for the Gateway Project, and the expansion of the Second Avenue subway. While the latter two projects are likely safe under President Biden’s administration, other megaprojects, like the long-delayed BQE repairs and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed Interborough Express light rail line, could face headwinds.
Jon Orcutt, director of Bike New York and a former New York City transportation official, noted that federal funding from Biden’s infrastructure law will run out in 2026. This could spell trouble for the MTA’s new five-year construction plan, which assumes $14 billion in federal contributions.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli warned, "Any reduction in funding puts the MTA and the city’s economy in harm’s way."
MTA Chair Janno Lieber expressed optimism about working with Trump, citing the president’s understanding of traffic’s impact on New York’s economy. However, Lieber has not publicly criticized Trump since the election.
Meanwhile, Trump floated the idea of making Penn Station and the city’s subways "beautiful" to Gov. Hochul. Gelinas suggested that New York’s recent political swing could make Trump more inclined to send money to the state, so long as he’s handing the check to a Republican.
While New York City technically owns the subway, it’s leased to the MTA—a state-run public authority. Alison from Brooklyn would have been correct a century ago, as the majority of the city’s subways were initially built by private companies that later went bankrupt and became publicly owned.
The silence from President Trump regarding congestion pricing is deafening. Four days into his second term, and with no public statement or executive action, his campaign promise of “TERMINATING” the program hangs heavy in the air. This inaction leaves New Yorkers and the MTA in limbo.
While the President’s intentions remain unclear, the $15 billion in revenue projected from congestion pricing is vital for revitalizing a crumbling mass transit system. Will the president quietly allow congestion pricing to continue, or will he find a way to backtrack on his prior commitment? The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of this controversial program and the future of New York City’s public transportation.
While President Trump’s silence on congestion pricing may appear ambiguous, the stakes are high for both New york City and the President’s legacy. The success of this aspiring plan to alleviate traffic and fund vital infrastructure upgrades could very well determine its political future. The MTA faces an urgent need for repairs and modernization, with congestion pricing possibly providing a lifeline. Conversely, with mounting pressure from Republican allies and the potential threat of executive intervention, the program’s future hangs in the balance. Time will tell whether the efficacy of congestion pricing, coupled with strong public support, will prevail against political pressure, or if President Trump will indeed make good on his campaign promise.