Trump Declares New York 'Saved' From Congestion Pricing: 'Long Live The King'

[Mushroom]

NY doesn't need the presidents approval to do this.

Actually, they do need Federal Approval.

One has to remember, this was controversial at the time the approval was granted because this is a Federal Highway. And one big law about Federal Highways is that they have to be free. The only exceptions are for bridges and tunnels as they can charge for maintenance, and in cases where pre-existing toll roads were incorporated into the US Interstate System (like the New Jersey Turnpike).

But to charge tolls on Federal Highways, approval of the Federal Government is absolutely required. And the fees are only to be charged for the maintenance and upkeep of the section of the highway, not as a revenue generator (such as "congestion pricing).

This is why all of the Toll Roads that are in California now and the ones they are building are all on State Highways. State Route 73, 133, 241, and 261. This came up there over 20 years ago when California wanted to do the same thing on I-5, I-10, and I-405. And the Federal government told them the exact same thing. If you want toll roads, then put them on your own highways, you can't put them on the Interstates. And as those are built and maintained by the state itself, so they are more than allowed to charge tolls to use them.

This is why even though Oregon for many years has been trying to do the same thing on I-205, every time they try they get slapped down by either the DOT or a Federal Judge. Because the state is not allowed to charge "congestion pricing" on a Federal Highway. And the state is now in the process of designing a new State Highway that will run parallel to I-205 that they can charge tolls on.

The approval for this by President Biden ultimately is like any "Executive Order". What one President approves, another can revoke when it comes to Federally funded infrastructure.

Oh, and the "King" line is from a common local phrase, the "King of New York". That was first from a 1990 movie starring Christopher Walken, but is now commonly used to designate anybody in the area that is the "top dog". It has been used in the hip-hop community for years when discussing popular rappers at the time like Nas, Jay-Z, or BIG.

Hence the name of the CD "The New York King" from The Notorious BIG.