Federal Court Rules That Trump Administration’s Attempt to End Congestion Pricing Is Unlawful
Victory
—After 1-year anniversary, the Congestion Pricing program has cleaned the air, made streets safer, boosted local economy, and added millions for public transportation improvements
Contacts
Nydia Gutiérrez, ngutierrez@earthjustice.org
Today, the United States District Court-Southern District of New York rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to wipe out New York City’s proven-successful Congestion Pricing program. Represented by Earthjustice, Riders Alliance and Sierra Club filed a lawsuit joining the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) as interveners on March 4, 2025. Today’s decision awards summary judgment to the MTA and to Riders Alliance and Sierra Club as Intervenors, rejecting the Trump administration’s effort to have Riders Alliance’s and Sierra Club’s claims dismissed.
“This a huge win for New Yorkers and for our democracy,” said Dror Ladin, Senior Attorney at Earthjustice. “President Trump declared himself a king and decreed that congestion pricing was dead. But the court confirmed today that Trump has no power to override the democratic process that brought us Congestion Pricing. It remains very much alive, and is delivering great results for our air, our streets, our public transit, and our climate.”
The lawsuit responded to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s attempt to rescind prior federal approval. U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman has already ruled the federal government cannot withhold transportation funds while the case proceeds.
“New Yorkers have the right to improve the environment where they live while making much-needed improvements to the city’s public transportation system. We commend the Court’s decision, which upheld this tenet and characterized the decision making of the Department of Transportation as “arbitrary and capricious,” said Sierra Club New York City Group Transportation Chair Wayne Arden. “After fourteen months of operation, it’s clear that congestion pricing is succeeding: traffic is moving faster, vehicle pollution is down, and the added revenue is allowing the MTA to make essential improvements to the transit system.”
Despite criticism from President Donald Trump, who has called the toll “a disaster for New York,” Congestion Pricing continues to prove the opposite: cleaner air, faster travel, stronger transit, and a thriving business district. See more details.
(Casey Chin / Earthjustice)
Additional Resources
- Five Big Wins for the Big Apple from Congestion Pricing
- Early Trump Memos Undermine Sean Duffy’s Argument Against Congestion Pricing
- Congestion Pricing is a Big Win for Clean Air. We’re Suing Trump to Keep It.
- As Congestion Pricing Kicks Off, MTA Announces Purchase of 265 New Zero-Emissions Buses
- Related case documents & news
- About the Northeast Office
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