The federal government has greenlit Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new congestion pricing plan.

The Federal Highway Administration issued its approval for the tolling program to start Jan. 5, 2025, signing a Value Pricing Pilot Program Agreement alongside the MTA and state Department of Transportation. The VPPP is the document the state transportation commissioner was ordered not to sign during the governor’s pause on the program.

“Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. When we clear the final bureaucratic hurdle to implement congestion pricing," MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.

The FHWA indicated in a letter sent Thursday that it was contacted on Nov. 8 about reevaluating the new tolling structure. Once the paperwork was issued, the administration said in the letter it “finds that no additional environmental analysis is warranted.” 

There are still multiple lawsuits in court attempting to stop the implementation of congestion pricing, with the motions of four cases seeking preliminary injunctions to stop the program all set to be heard on Dec. 20.

Lieber said he's not concerned.

“Judge Liman actually looked at everything we’ve done so far and issued a 100-plus page opinion that said this was by the book and approved, what was done so far. Now he has to rule on this last step, and we accept it and we’re comfortable going into that litigation,” he said.

There is another suit in New Jersey that still has not been ruled on and three in New York — from the town of Hempstead, Orange County and Rockland County. The Rockland County suit is moving ahead, and a court conference is scheduled for Dec. 16 where plaintiffs will also seek a pause as that case is heard. The MTA says it’s more focused public outreach.

"What we’ve got to do is make sure everybody who is gonna participate in this has full information — both about exemptions and discounts where the toll will apply,” Lieber said.

If there are no further delays, drivers who enter Manhattan below 60th Street will start paying tolls at midnight on Jan. 5.

In the meantime, the MTA is offering commuters the chance to attend one of eight public webinars next month to ask questions and learn more about the program.