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President Donald Trump has renewed his efforts to end New York City's congestion pricing program, which charges a toll for vehicles entering certain parts of Manhattan. On Monday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he is directing Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to reconsider the program, which he claims has turned the city into a "ghost town." According to Yahoo News, Trump has consistently opposed the program, previously declaring it dead in February.
The program, launched on January 5, imposes a $9 toll on most vehicles entering Manhattan neighborhoods south of Central Park. It aims to reduce traffic and fund mass transit improvements. However, the federal government has now rescinded its approval, with Secretary Duffy calling the toll "a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners," as reported by Global News.
Governor Kathy Hochul responded to Trump's actions, stating, "The Trump administration tried once before to kill congestion pricing and lost. If they want to try again, we'll see them in court." The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has already filed a lawsuit to keep the program alive. Hochul emphasized that New York is a "nation of laws, not ruled by a king," and vowed to defend the tolling system in court.
The congestion pricing plan, approved by New York lawmakers in 2019, had been delayed due to federal environmental reviews during Trump's first term. It was eventually approved under the Biden administration. The toll is intended to fund improvements for New York City's transit system, which serves about four million riders daily. While some New Yorkers oppose the toll, transit advocates and environmentalists support it as a way to reduce air pollution and traffic.
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