Congestion pricing has been in effect for just over a month.

Over the weekend, the New York Post reported after two phone calls with Gov. Kathy Hochul, President Donald Trump said, “I think it’s really horrible, but I want to discuss it with her at this point. If I decide to do it, I will be able to kill it off in Washington through the Department of Transportation.” 

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump told the New York Post he’s considering making a deal with Gov. Kathy Hochul to end congestion pricing

  • Legal experts believe if the president tries to order the tolls to stop, it will end up in court 

  • Hochul spoke to the president by phone twice with plans to speak further but nothing is scheduled
  • Hochul says she will make the case for congestion pricing next week at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington

"I cannot speculate on what his thoughts are,” Gov. Kathy Hochul responded at an unrelated press conference Tuesday. “I’m going to go in and just make a persuasive argument on why it should stay.”

One of the reasons is the money from the tolls to enter Manhattan below 60th Street is already being used to back bonds to upgrade the subway system, including modernizing over 70-year-old signals and increasing wheelchair accessibility.

There is also the data from the MTA that the program has reduced traffic in Manhattan and improved commute times.

But the feeling among drivers in Midtown still mixed. One person says it’s inconvenient, but another noted how it’s improved traffic and finding parking.

Even if the president moved to end the program, it’s unclear how he could do it. 

“In the short-term what’s likely to happen here is if he does try to stop congestion pricing, we’ll be back in federal court very quickly,” Columbia Law School professor Michael Gerrard said. “I don’t think Trump has the authority to block congestion pricing without action from Congress.”

The governor says she’s going to continue to make her case.

“I want to collect data, the president is data driven he knows the city, he knows congestion in front of trump tower is not good and I’m going to be able to point to some very positive benefits of it,” Hochul said. “So, I will do my very best is all I’m going to say on that topic, so wish me well.”

There’s no follow-up call scheduled with the president but Hochul says she plans to speak to him at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington next week.