A federal judge has stepped in to stop the U.S. Department of Transportation from cutting off funding to New York as part of the Trump administration’s effort to derail the city’s congestion pricing initiative. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman issued a preliminary injunction, following his earlier temporary restraining order, that blocks federal officials from denying funds or necessary approvals for New York infrastructure projects.
In his lengthy 109-page decision, Liman sharply criticized the federal government’s approach, writing that the Transportation Department had essentially forced New York into a dangerous standoff. He wrote that officials were telling the state to either abandon the congestion pricing plan or “brace for impact and prepare to suffer the effects” of penalties for noncompliance.
Under the congestion pricing plan, most cars driving into the area of Manhattan below 60th Street during busy hours are charged a $9 toll.
The Trump administration revoked its prior sign-off on the plan on February 19, arguing that the initiative should be halted. The program is intended to ease gridlock and generate revenue to modernize the city’s deteriorating subway and bus services.
{Matzav.com}