View of New York highway along a body of water with the city in the background.

New tolls cut traffic by 82,000 cars a day as New York fights federal order to stop congestion pricing

New York City’s toll program reduced traffic below 60th Street by 13% in March, even as federal officials push to shut it down.

Stephen Nessen reports for Gothamist.


In short:

  • The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) says congestion pricing has kept about 82,000 vehicles out of Manhattan daily in March, compared to traffic levels if the program hadn't started.
  • The toll revenue, expected to reach $500 million this year, is legally dedicated to funding $15 billion in mass transit improvements.
  • The Trump administration has ordered the MTA to halt the program by April 20 and threatened to withhold unspecified federal funding; the MTA is suing to stop the shutdown.

Key quote:

“The good news is that the data reflects what New Yorkers are seeing every day: congestion pricing is working as intended and should remain on, even in the face of misguided threats from the Federal Government.”

— Brian Fritsch, associate director of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA

Why this matters:

Vehicle congestion affects more than travel times. It worsens air quality, raises asthma rates, and drives up noise pollution. In dense urban areas like Manhattan, car traffic clogs emergency vehicle routes and slows buses, disproportionately hurting people who rely on public transit — including many low-income New Yorkers. Congestion pricing aims to change that by discouraging unnecessary car trips and funding transit upgrades. But the program faces political resistance from those who frame it as a burden on drivers, even though most working-class residents don’t drive into Manhattan. If federal intervention succeeds, New York could lose billions in planned transit improvements. The debate signals a growing divide in how cities and federal authorities prioritize mobility, climate, and public health — and whether urban centers will get the tools they need to adapt.

Related: Those critical of congestion pricing often change their minds

A huge tornado touches down on the horizon of a green plain.
Credit: Photo by Greg Johnson on Unsplash

New storms pound the South as families mourn lost lives and homes

A string of deadly tornadoes has devastated parts of Kentucky and Missouri, and more severe storms are on the way, threatening already hard-hit communities with hail, flooding, and extreme heat.

Matthew Brown and Carolyn Kaster report for the Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
Homes in Florida perched on the edge of a beach dune eroded by a hurricane.

New FEMA chief says states must take the lead on disaster recovery this hurricane season

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will shift more responsibility for disaster response and recovery to states ahead of the 2025 hurricane season, according to its acting chief.

Gabriela Aoun Angueira reports for The Associated Press.

Keep reading...Show less
aerial photography of grass field with blue solar panels.

Republicans aim to slash green energy tax credits despite risk of higher bills and job losses

New research shows that House Republicans’ plan to roll back clean energy tax credits could raise utility costs and cut household incomes nationwide, hitting both red and blue states.

Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
Man cleaning solar panels on a roof.

Clean energy jobs put Arizona Republican at odds with GOP plan to gut climate law

An Arizona congressman faces pressure from both Trump and his voters as clean energy projects flourish in his district thanks to a law the GOP wants to dismantle.

James Bikales reports for POLITICO.

Keep reading...Show less
Man in yellow safety vest and hard hat standing on a roof with solar panels.

House Republicans push to end solar tax breaks, putting rooftop systems out of reach for many

For nearly 20 years, federal tax credits have helped homeowners afford rooftop solar panels, but a new House proposal would end those incentives at the close of 2025, potentially stalling solar growth and driving up energy costs for families.

Tik Root reports for Grist.

Keep reading...Show less
A view of a nuclear tower looking up through the top opening.

Trump aims to tighten White House grip on nuclear regulation

The White House is considering executive orders that would reshape nuclear oversight by curbing the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and expanding control through the Department of Energy.

Francisco "A.J." Camacho reports for E&E News.

Keep reading...Show less
LNG tanker with bright yellow tanks viewed from above.

Major insurer drops coverage for Louisiana LNG project amid pollution concerns

An insurance giant has stopped backing a liquefied natural gas terminal in southwest Louisiana that has drawn sustained criticism from residents and environmental advocates over its health and climate impacts.

Keerti Gopal reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.