President Trump has formulated a plan to power New York to “kill” congestion pricing in Manhattan via the federal Division of Transportation, he informed The Publish in an unique interview.
Amongst potential penalties obtainable to the company are withholding hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in funding and reopening the environmental evaluation course of that approved the toll underneath the Biden administration.
Trump additionally vowed to rid Massive Apple streets of motorcycle lanes and legal migrants, the president informed The Publish in an unique interview.
He’s hopeful that his “respect” for Gov. Hochul of their ongoing discussions will lead to a mutually helpful deal on the unpopular toll.
“Out of respect” for the governor, Trump refused to expose particulars of at the very least two cellphone conversations the pair have had about ending the unpopular $9 tax on automobiles coming into Manhattan throughout peak hours south of sixtieth Road, often known as the Congestion Reduction Zone.
Trump believes he and Hochul can nonetheless make a deal over ending the levy, which he slammed as “damaging to New York.”
“I believe it’s actually horrible, however I need to focus on it together with her at this level,” he mentioned. “If I determine to do it, I can kill it off in Washington via the Division of Transportation.
“It’s numerous energy.”
In danger is a part of the $36 billion in five-year federal transportation funding to New York state that extends to the top of 2026. Different federal grants may also be affected if Trump pounces on what New Yorkers are calling the congestion con.
The toll went into impact final month and this system’s revenues are ticketed for public transit infrastructure and arrest the decline in subway ridership by forcing individuals out of their vehicles.
However Trump says it’s solely hurting enterprise in his hometown.
“Visitors is means down as a result of individuals can’t come into Manhattan and it’s solely going to worsen,” he mentioned. “Individuals don’t learn about it till they get the invoice.”
Trump argued that New York “ought to deal with security and cleanliness within the subway,” citing instances of straphangers being pushed onto the tracks by “thugs.”
“Cleanliness and effectivity are good however they gotta get robust on the thugs. They will’t be good.”
Hochul has boasted that congestion pricing has lowered visitors, as meant. However Trump says that’s not a constructive signal:
“That’s as a result of nobody’s coming to the town.”
Trump additionally revealed to The Publish that he needs to make use of his energy to take away one of many greatest contributing components to visitors congestion within the first place — bike lanes.
“They need to do away with the bike lanes and the sidewalks in the midst of the road,” he mentioned. “They’re so unhealthy. They’re harmful. These [electric] bikes go at 20 miles an hour. They’re whacking individuals.”
As bike lanes multiply in NYC, pedestrian accidents have climbed steadily within the final 5 years. E-bikes and mopeds particularly have made the town harmful for pedestrians, in response to the NYC E-Car Security Alliance, which is pushing for laws to require the digital bikes and scooters be registered and insured.
Priscilla’s Regulation is known as after Priscilla Loke, who was killed by an e-bike in Chinatown in 2023.
Trump additionally warned that New York is subsequent within the crosshairs of his Justice Division over “sanctuary metropolis” legal guidelines which hinder his drive to deport legal unlawful aliens.
“We’ll must” sue New York, he mentioned.
“That’s a fantastic factor to be suing over, wherever the place they’ve sanctuary cities. … New York doesn’t actually need them. I don’t suppose anybody needs it. I believe the one one who needs it are corrupt politicians.
“I don’t suppose the individuals need sanctuary cities. Why would they need to shield criminals?”
The DOJ final week filed a lawsuit towards Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, accusing them of interfering with federal immigration enforcement. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, mentioned “sanctuary cities are sanctuaries for criminals.”
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