With sooner or later left to go on the Trump administration’s March 21 deadline for New York to finish its congestion pricing toll, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy posted a “30-day extension” discover to social media Thursday afternoon.
Whereas Duffy restated the administration’s demand for Gov. Hochul to finish the tolling program, which fees most motorists $9 a day to drive south of sixtieth St. in Manhattan, he additionally prolonged the window 30 days as talks are ongoing.
“We will provide New York with a 30-day extension as discussions continue,” Duffy wrote. “Know that the billions of dollars the federal government sends to New York are not a blank check,” he threatened. “Continued noncompliance will not be taken lightly.”
The delay comes as New York elected officers and transit honchos reaffirmed their intention to disregard the federal deadline absent a court docket order.
“Let me be clear, these attacks on congestion pricing are an attack on New York’s sovereignty,” Rep. Jerry Nadler (D – Manhattan) stated Thursday — previous to Duffy’s publish — throughout a small rally on the Brooklyn Bridge. “New York has the right to govern itself, to implement policies that improve the lives of its residents, and to make decisions that benefit our infrastructure and our economy.”
MTA CEO Janno Lieber has repeatedly stated the toll would stay in place except and till a decide ordered in any other case.
The toll is tasked with lowering vehicular visitors whereas elevating cash for MTA capital initiatives — was permitted final 12 months and went into impact in early January.
In mid-February, Duffy claimed to have retroactively revoked a key federal authorization for the toll that had been given by his predecessor — a transfer that prompted trump to declare himself “king” on social media.
The MTA instantly filed go well with in New York federal court docket, claiming Duffy’s orders have been unconstitutional. The Trump administration has but to file any response in that case.
Duffy’s tweet just isn’t the primary time the feds have tried to make use of future transit funding as a cudgel.
In a letter despatched to Lieber earlier this week, Duffy demanded a litany of stats — a lot of it already publicly out there — as to crime traits and funding within the subway system.
“I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter to avoid further consequences, up to and including redirecting or withholding funding,” Duffy wrote, giving the transit company a March 31 deadline to supply the data.
MTA officers stated earlier this week that they might be comfortable to assist the feds discover the crime knowledge.
Initially Printed: March 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM EDT
