NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) -- Congestion pricing will continue in Manhattan, and the federal government can no longer threaten the MTA with punishment, a judge has decided.
Judge Lewis Limon issued a temporary restraining order, restricting the U.S. Department of Transportation from fining or otherwise punishing the MTA for continuing congestion pricing as the court case continues.
Limon issued the order after both sides presented arguments in Lower Manhattan federal court this morning.
The MTA filed this suit against federal authorities, who set a deadline to end congestion pricing after revoking federal approval.
That deadline passed on May 21, and multiple subsequent deadlines have since passed. U.S DOT officials had said some funding could be pulled this week if the timeline was not met.
The MTA is arguing that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and the agency do not have the authority to cancel a federal approval issued during the final days of the Biden administration.
Lawyers for the federal government say the agency has the authority to prioritize projects.
The temporary restraining order is in place through June 9.
Other case developments could be announced or filed before that date. The full case is set to be heard later this summer.
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