(Bloomberg) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he may sue the federal government over its failure to approve a plan to ease traffic in Manhattan by charging motorists fees during periods of high congestion, if evidence shows the hold-up is politically motivated.
“The Federal Highway Administration has to be careful because blatant political use of government is certainly unethical, and in some situations it's illegal,” Cuomo said during a news conference at his Manhattan office Thursday. “I have no problem suing the federal government, especially if they did something illegal.”
The White House press office didn't respond to requests for a response to the governor's comments.
The plan, targeting traffic in midtown Manhattan, is crucial to raise about $1.5 billion in annual revenue, enough to finance $15 billion in municipal bonds to make mass-transit improvements. The program -- set to launch in January -- must be approved by the administration because it involves some federal roads.
Cuomo said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority continues to move forward on the plan, but the agency has not yet appointed a panel that would determine pricing policies and technical issues.
Cuomo described the decision on the congestion-pricing plan as part of a Trump administration push to hurt New York. He also cited the administration's recent suspension of New Yorkers' applications to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security's “trusted traveler” program, which speeds airport entry when citizens arrive at an airport from abroad.
To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, Steve Stroth
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