NYC congestion pricing lives on, court pushes decision into 2026
New York City’s congestion pricing plan remains legally intact for now after a court order kept the program in place and blocked the federal government from taking punitive action while the case moves forward.
The order effectively preserves the status quo until the court issues a final ruling. A decision is now expected in 2026, extending uncertainty around when — or whether — the tolling plan will take effect.
Following Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement of a pause, attorneys for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) filed notifications in the lawsuits challenging congestion pricing. In those filings, the MTA said that with the pause, it no longer expected congestion pricing to start by June 30.
The development matters for truck drivers and other commercial operators because congestion pricing would add a new cost for trips into parts of Manhattan, affecting route planning, delivery schedules, and operating expenses. With the rollout paused and litigation still pending, carriers and owner-operators are left operating under current rules while watching for the next court milestone.
Reports from Politico and The New York Times the night before Hochul’s announcement had indicated a change was coming, and the MTA’s court updates confirmed that the June 30 start date is no longer anticipated.