The MTA and federal transportation department have reached a deal that will keep congestion pricing cameras on into the fall, a new court filing indicates.
The new timeline was included in a document detailing a proposed schedule of legal briefings in a suit the MTA brought against the federal government. Both sides agreed on a briefing schedule through October. Manhattan federal Judge Lewis Liman would not rule until those documents are submitted, meaning the toll cameras charging drivers a base fare of $9 to travel south of 60th Street will likely stay on at least until then.
In February, President Donald Trump moved to revoke federal approval of congestion pricing, saying the tolls were an unfair tax. The MTA immediately responded with its lawsuit. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared the toll cameras would stay on until a court ruling ordered otherwise.
Meanwhile, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has continued to put pressure on the MTA. He threatened to withhold federal funding for an alleged lack of public safety on the subways, and said Hochul should approve a natural gas pipeline into the state.
Last week, Duffy visited the subway system with New York City Mayor Eric Adams and suggested Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency should review the MTA’s finances.
