NYC Comptroller Lander & Advocates Gather to Keep Congestion Pricing On and Trump Away from MTA Funding
New York, NY—One day before the Trump Administration threatens to withhold federal funding and shut off New York’s congestion pricing, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Congressman Jerry Nadler joined transit advocates, legal experts, disability rights leaders, and climate advocates to condemn this federal overreach.
“President Trump threatening to shut off federal funding to the MTA is illegal and bogus—especially when congestion pricing is working and when it could lead to chaos and more crime,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “History shows that denying the MTA money will only exacerbate crime and hurt New Yorkers from Reagan era cuts to Cuomo’s Summer of Hell. A real subway safety plan requires ending street homelessness for people with mental illness, not just sweeping people around.”
“Attacks on congestion pricing by President Trump are an attack on New York’s sovereignty,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “Trump can’t stop losing in court, and he knows he’ll lose again over Congestion Pricing. That’s why he and his reality star-turned-Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, want to strong-arm us by threatening to cut funding for the MTA instead. Never mind the fact that, the Federal Highway Administration already granted approval to congestion pricing. The notion of revoking approval for a federal initiative of this magnitude is nearly without precedent. I firmly believe that there is no legal basis for the Trump to unilaterally halt this program. The Value Pricing Program is solidly established under federal law, and its approval cannot be arbitrarily revoked, especially when it is clearly delivering tangible benefits. Simply put, congestion pricing is no different than New Jersey’s ability to set tolls on the Jersey Turnpike. Today, we send a clear message to Trump, Duffy, and anyone else trying to derail congestion pricing: get out of the way. This train is staying on the tracks. Congestion pricing will continue.”
“Riders won congestion relief, it’s working for New Yorkers and we’re not giving it up. Public transit is our way of life and we’re not going to stop organizing and winning until we have the safe, affordable, reliable, accessible service we all deserve. We’ll see the US DOT in court and we’ll see state leaders in Albany to make sure we have the necessary revenue in place to keep fixing the subway,” said Danny Pearlstein, Policy and Communications Director at Riders Alliance.
“Trump thinks he can end congestion pricing and defund the subway — but he’s wrong,” said Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. “We will never stop fighting for cleaner air, safer streets, less congestion, and faster buses, no matter who is in the White House. This is an assault on New York’s autonomy, and we won’t sit idly while the president tries to control our city and our streets.”
“New Yorkers have the right to improve the environment where they live while making much-needed improvements to the city’s public transportation system. After two 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. We have every intention of keeping it, and we are ready to defend it,” said Wayne Arden, Sierra Club New York City Group Transportation Chair.
“New Yorkers know that congestion pricing is working, that the city functions better with reduced traffic and that good transit is our lifeblood. Kudos to City Comptroller Brad Lander for standing up to the Trump Administration’s culture war against our transportation policies,” said Jon Orcutt, Advocacy Director at Bike New York.
“The Elevator Action Group (Rise and Resist) believes accessibility is not a dismissible issue,” said Jennifer Van Dyck of the Elevator Action Group. “It is not a luxury or convenience. It is a necessity and a civil right. Congestion pricing offers a financial lifeline, providing the MTA with essential funding already earmarked for accessibility improvements. We won’t go back!”
“Donald Trump’s plan to kill congestion pricing in New York is yet another reckless, illegal move to dismantle critical climate and economic policies. After years of analysis, data collection, and community input, this program is already proving its worth—lowering commute times and easing congestion in just its first month. It’s good for businesses, good for the economy, and vital for protecting New York’s air and water quality. With nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers supporting it, Trump’s efforts to undo this program are not only harmful to the city, but also unpopular and undemocratic, said Justin Balik, VP for States at Evergreen Action. “The Value Pricing Pilot Program is a well-established framework to allow states and localities to deploy innovative approaches to tolling policy utilized by red and blue states alike, and there’s no valid basis for terminating the agreement. This program is working, and this baseless attack has no justification.”
“The MTA’s long-promised public transit accessibility improvements have begun, traffic congestion is down, and the air is cleaner,” said Mike Litrownik, Supervising Attorney for the Special Litigation Project at Mobilization for Justice. “Mobilization for Justice is proud to be part of this legal coalition to ensure that congestion pricing remains operational so that New Yorkers with disabilities can continue benefiting from it.”
“Congestion Pricing has improved quality of life for all New Yorkers, including people with disabilities, and we can’t let this federal government overreach stop the program just as we are beginning to feel its benefits. Congestion pricing is the source of $15 billion in revenue needed for subway construction projects, including crucial and long overdue accessibility improvements for people with disabilities. Additionally, since the start of Congestion Pricing just over two months ago, vehicle trip speeds within the tolling area have increased, leading to shorter bus and Access-A-Ride paratransit trip times,” said Christopher Schuyler, Managing Attorney of the Disability Justice Program at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. “People with disabilities are getting to where they need to go faster rather than wasting time sitting in traffic. Congestion Pricing is a success and we must not allow the federal government to bully New Yorkers into shutting it down!”
“With each passing day new evidence emerges showing congestion pricing is saving time and money for commuters and businesses, boosting MTA ridership and performance, and gaining in popularity across the region. The Trump Administration’s misguided attempt to end this program is a betrayal of the millions of working-class people who take the buses, subways and trains every day, and we applaud Governor Hochul, MTA Chair Janno Lieber, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander for standing up for New Yorkers in face of the sham deadlines and shameless bullying. The cameras stay on,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
“As New York builds more homes to address our housing crisis, we must prioritize transit over cars,” said Annemarie Gray, Executive Director of Open New York. “Over the past two months, we’ve seen the incredible benefits of congestion pricing, including quicker travel times as well as reduced air pollution, noise, and traffic. We’re grateful to the thousands of advocates who have fought tirelessly for congestion pricing, and for Governor Hochul, our allies in the State Senate, Assembly, and Congress who brought it over the finish line. It is a critical foundation to truly make New York a more sustainable, affordable, and livable city—one designed for people, not vehicles.”
“Congestion pricing is gaining popularity for one simple reason—it works. Attempting to meddle in this successful program is a losing idea for the White House; New York won’t respond to bullying meant to strand bus riders, endanger lives, gridlock drivers, and send our transit into fiscal crisis. We’re grateful to our City and State leadership who are standing up for New Yorkers and insisting that congestion pricing will continue to improve the lives of every resident, business owner, and transit rider in the region,” said Sara Lind, Co-Executive Director at Open Plans.
“The latest missive from US DOT threatening New York’s millions of daily transit riders is yet another example of the Trump Administration using its bully pulpit to be an actual bully. Instead of offering to have a constructive dialogue about opportunities to strengthen public safety and support transit, the letter sent to the MTA demands readily available information that shows that – while not perfect – major strides have been made to improve the safety of the transit system and the riders who depend on it. Those strides are the results of a state and city partnership that was forged to address the root causes of the issues underground, while at the same time tackling the malingering and often malodorous ongoing problems. Secretary Duffy, if you want to help, start by taking a ride with us instead of issuing edicts from afar. Threatening to defund the riders you claim to want to help is obtuse and obstructive to real problem solving,” said Lisa Daglian, Executive Director of PCAC.
“Congestion pricing is working to reduce traffic, saving commuters time and supporting the regional economy,” said Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President of Regional Plan Association. “Rescinding congestion pricing now would eliminate these benefits, hurting New Yorkers. It would also send shockwaves through the municipal bond market and undermine the MTA’s ability to deliver on vital infrastructure commitments.”
“New York must fight against attempts by the federal government to illegally withhold congressionally appropriated MTA funding — of which it receives about $2 billion a year — while continuing to protect vital programs like congestion pricing that allow New York to raise local revenues,” said Rachael Fauss, Senior Policy Advisor for Reinvent Albany. “We thank Comptroller Lander for continuing to fight these illegal attacks on New York.
“This administration’s attempt to end congestion pricing is a gross overreach of its authority, an example of a growing pattern of irrational and irresponsible decision making,” said Renae Reynolds, Executive Director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign. ”Congestion Pricing is working to the benefit of commuters throughout the region. It was established through a lawful process and it is our duty to defend and ensure that our streets remain unclogged, or pedestrians have safer streets to cross and that our children have cleaner air to breathe.”
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