New York City workers have voiced their concerns over the city's congestion traffic pricing in a recent ad released by the Department of Transportation. The ad features individuals criticizing the tolls and fees associated with the congestion pricing initiative.
One worker in the clip expressed his frustration, stating, 'I think with raised toll prices, raised train fares, now you want to add like tolls on the streets, I think it’s definitely borderline stealing.' Another worker described the initiative as 'ridiculous' and claimed that it is 'destroying the city.'
The Trump administration has been actively working to address the congestion pricing issue, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calling for an end to the tolls. The Federal Highway Administration Executive Director Gloria Shepherd also wrote a letter requesting the tolls to be discontinued.
Despite the financial success of the tolls, which generated $37.5 million in January, there has been pushback from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. She has vowed for 'orderly resistance' in response to the FHWA's request to end the program.
In a statement, John J. McCarthy, MTA chief of policy and external relations, emphasized that they view the request to end the tolls as unlawful and have taken legal action by filing a lawsuit.
The congestion pricing tolls are currently in effect in Manhattan on and south of 60th Street on a daily basis. The debate over the tolls continues as various stakeholders express differing opinions on the impact of the congestion pricing initiative.
