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NEW YORK — The $9 congestion toll for most drivers entering the core of Manhattan continues to be enforced, even with a March deadline from the Trump administration pushing for its suspension.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the agency responsible for the tolls, confirmed on Sunday that traffic cameras are still actively collecting fees from vehicles driving into the areas south of Central Park.
In February, Sean Duffy, then-Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump, revoked federal approval for the program, labeling it “a slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners.” He initially gave New York until March 21 to comply with this reversal.
The MTA contested Duffy’s decision in federal court, and Duffy extended the compliance deadline to April 20. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, the Department of Transportation maintained that it would enforce the deadline, stating it would utilize all necessary measures if the toll was not halted.
“To clarify, both the MTA and City reaffirmed in court that congestion pricing is here to stay, and Secretary Duffy’s arguments against it have no basis,” said John J. McCarthy, MTA’s chief of policy and external relations, on Sunday.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Implemented on January 5, the congestion fee aims not just to alleviate traffic congestion but also to generate significant revenue for New York’s public transportation systems, including subways and buses.
Trump, whose Trump Tower and various properties lie within the congested area, had promised to abolish the plan upon taking office.
The MTA, for its part, has continued to emphasize the advantages of the tolling initiative, reporting a decrease in vehicle entries to Manhattan’s heart.
As of March, around 560,000 vehicles entered the congestion zone daily, a 13% reduction from the 640,000 estimated by the MTA that would have entered had the toll not been implemented, according to agency data.
The MTA reported it is on track to achieve the projected $500 million revenue from congestion pricing for the year.
The toll varies based on vehicle type and timing and is an additional charge on top of existing tolls for crossing bridges and tunnels into Manhattan.
Similar congestion pricing models have been adopted in other major cities globally, such as London and Stockholm.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Manhattan dismissed multiple lawsuits brought by the local trucking industry and other groups contesting the toll.
Most of the lawsuits claimed that federal transportation authorities approved the fee without adequate oversight and requested the completion of a detailed environmental impact study before moving forward.
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abcnews.go.com