President Donald Trump declared himself "king" on Wednesday as he celebrated his administration's bid to end federal approval of New York’s “congestion pricing” — an auto toll instituted last month to raise money for the region’s aging mass transit system.
In a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the federal government has jurisdiction over highways leading to Manhattan and that the additional tolls posed an unfair burden for motorists outside the city.
Trump celebrated the potential end to congestion pricing and appeared to liken himself to royalty.
"CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!" he wrote on social media.
Under the system, most vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district — from 60th Street all the way down to the southern tip of the Financial District — had to pay a peak fee of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
At a news conference shortly after the Trump administration's announcement, Hochul defiantly insisted the cameras that help collect the tolls will remain on and blasted Trump for his gloating.
"President Donald Trump tweeted, 'Long live the king.' I’m here to say New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years," she told reporters at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. "And we sure as hell are not going to start now."
Duffy called the tolls, targeting Manhattan-bound drivers, "backwards and unfair."
“New York State’s congestion pricing plan is a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners,” he said in statement. “Commuters using the highway system to enter New York City have already financed the construction and improvement of these highways through the payment of gas taxes and other taxes."
Janno Lieber, chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said Wednesday it will go to court to fight any federal efforts to end the tolls.
Congestion pricing underwent a thorough federal review and proved its benefits, he said.
Lieber insisted that data shows more visitors are coming to New York because of congestion pricing, clearing the streets for buses and other vehicles to move faster and more safely.
"We tried gridlock for 60 years. It didn't work," he told reporters at Grand Central. "It cost our economy billions. But you know what's helping our economy? What's making New York a better place? Congestion pricing."
The Trump administration's effort to end the program was cheered by some leaders outside Manhattan who say their drivers are being unfairly taxed.
“Today is a huge win for Jersey families, their wallets, and the environment," Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said in statement. "From Day One, when we first started this fight, we knew that the Congestion Tax was just a giant cash grab for New York and the MTA — all on the backs of hardworking Jersey families."
Hochul mocked the Trump administration argument that congestion pricing should be overturned because it's unfair to New Jersey drivers coming into Manhattan.
She quipped that she doesn't lose any sleep over the "New York" football Giants’ and Jets’ playing their home games in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
"In what world should we be standing down to the will of another state?" she said. "That just doesn't happen. I mean, I personally would like to have all the New York teams playing in New York. But I'm not proposing that the federal government go annex the Meadowlands," referring to MetLife Stadium.
