Oral arguments in federal court, which will determine whether to implement a congestion charge in Manhattan, have been postponed to the 28th of next month. Judge Louis Lehman, who is presiding over the Manhattan congestion charge lawsuit, decided on the 23rd that he would hear oral arguments on January 28th of next year at the Southern District of New York federal court.
Judge Lehman had initially planned to issue a ruling within the year, but the trial date has been delayed as he has set the oral arguments for early next year. The Manhattan congestion charge went into effect on January 5th after much controversy, but just over a month after its implementation, the Donald Trump administration attempted to abolish it by abruptly revoking the environmental impact statement approved by the previous administration. In response, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which implements the congestion tax, and the New York State government filed a lawsuit, claiming that the Trump administration’s revocation of the environmental impact assessment and its forced abolition of the congestion tax were unconstitutional.
Judge Lehman issued a preliminary injunction in May, temporarily blocking the Trump administration’s threat to suspend the congestion tax, allowing the tax to remain in effect. While Lehman has indicated that he intends to rule on the case this year, a decision will likely be announced early next year.
The MTA believes the Manhattan congestion tax, which is approaching its first anniversary, is a success. The MTA has noted significant improvements in traffic flow in Manhattan since the tax was implemented and anticipates achieving its initial target of $500 million in toll revenue this year. Furthermore, a recent study by Cornell University found that air quality in Manhattan improved between January and June of this year, when the congestion tax was implemented.
However, some drivers are complaining that the $9 daily toll charged to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street after the congestion charge was implemented has increased their financial burden.
President Trump announced last month that he would re-enact the suspension of the congestion charge in Manhattan.