Multiple Lawsuits Aim to Save NYC Congestion Pricing

Environmental and transit advocacy groups, along with the MTA, are suing USDOT over its recent crusade to end the cordon pricing program.

1 minute read

March 6, 2025, 6:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Rush hour traffic jam of cars, buses, taxis and trucks on the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn, New York City with the colorful glow of sunlight in the background.

deberarr / Adobe Stock

The Sierra Club joined the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and other groups in filing legal action against the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for its attempt to end New York City’s congestion pricing program.

According to a press release  from the Sierra Club, “The legal complaint charges that the Trump administration made serious legal mistakes in its rush to deprive New Yorkers of the benefits of Congestion Pricing, and that these mistakes suggest that the administration is acting pretextually.” The program raised $48.6 million in its first month and has been shown to reduce congestion and improve travel times.

“We’re filing today’s case because congestion relief is saving us time on buses, fixing our aging subways, and improving our health. We can’t afford to go back.” — Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum

The new lawsuit argues that the plan to end the program has a flawed legal basis. “The letter states that federal law has never contemplated ‘cordon pricing’ as a permissible congestion pricing strategy, except where toll-free options are available to drivers. In fact, cordon pricing has for decades been recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a form of congestion pricing, and it authorized cordon pricing projects more than twenty years ago.”

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 in Sierra Club

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Department of Housing and Urban Development building in Washington, D.C. Concrete Brutalist high-rise.

What Trump’s Executive Orders Mean for US Housing Programs

Orders related to DEI and accessibility, among others, may threaten housing programs for those who need them most.

March 3, 2025 - Shelterforce

Aerial view of University of Hawaii campus in Honolulu, HI.

University of Hawai‘i Appoints New Architecture School Dean

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa has named Mo Zell as the new dean of its School of Architecture, bringing over two decades of experience in academia, innovative educational programs, and industry partnerships to advance design education.

47 minutes ago - University of Hawai'i News

Black and white photos of couple walking on Great Highway road in San Francisco on the water during the pandemic when the road was closed to vehicular traffic.

Part of San Francisco Waterfront Highway to Become Pedestrian-Only in April

Two miles of the ‘Great Highway’ will be permanently closed to cars, in part due to erosion that makes the road unsafe for vehicles.

1 hour ago - Streetsblog San Francisco

Water purification plant in El Paso, Texas on riverfront.

El Paso Wastewater Purification Facility Breaks Ground

As water supplies become strained and technology advances, cities look to wastewater as a viable source of drinking water.

2 hours ago - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.