NJ governor asks Trump to examine Manhattan congestion pricing

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Monday asked President Trump to examine congestion pricing in Manhattan.

“As you begin your second term as President, I welcome any opportunity to work with you and your Administration where we can find common ground. One area where I believe our priorities align is congestion pricing,” a letter from Murphy reads.

The Democrat told Trump the program did not receive enough federal scrutiny last year.

A congestion pricing plan detailed in spring 2024 would have charged passenger vehicles entering Manhattan below 60th Street $15. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in June the plan was delayed, also stating that “a $15 charge may not mean a lot to someone who has the means, but it can break the budget of a working- or middle-class household.”

The plan was later revived only days after Trump’s election, going into effect earlier this month but at $9 for most vehicles. The Biden administration approved the plan with the lower toll.

“By getting congestion pricing underway and fully supporting the [Metropolitan Transport Authority] capital plan, we’ll unclog our streets, reduce pollution and deliver better public transit for millions of New Yorkers,” Hochul said in November.

Trump has openly opposed the plan, and Republicans in New York have called on him to end it.

Murphy asked for the program's review.

“I am attaching a letter on behalf of New Jersey requesting that New York's congestion pricing scheme receive the close look it deserved but did not receive from the federal government last year,” Murphy said in his Monday letter. “I hope that you will ensure that this request receives prompt attention from the relevant officials within your Administration.”

The Hill has reached out to the White House, Hochul’s press office, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s (D) press office and the Metropolitan Transport Authority for comment.

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