The controversial congestion pricing plan has officially received approval from the Federal Highway Administration, clearing a major hurdle for its implementation. With the green light from the federal agency, the plan is on track to launch in January, charging drivers as much as $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street.

However, the plan still faces significant opposition. The Town of Hempstead has filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), arguing that the agency skipped a required 45-day public notice period before moving forward with the plan. Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin contends that this procedural misstep makes the plan illegal.

In response, MTA CEO Janno Lieber criticized the lawsuit, dismissing it as part of ongoing opposition from local officials.

"You never know what the town of Hempstead is going to do," Lieber remarked. "They’re moving backwards and restricting housing, taking action against transit."

Clavin fired back, accusing Lieber of being out of touch with the concerns of Long Island commuters.

"Talk about a tone-deaf bureaucrat who doesn’t understand they’re literally taxing people out of going to their jobs," Clavin said.

While the federal approval marks a significant milestone for the MTA, the legal battles are far from over, and the plan's fate may ultimately be decided in the courts.

The congestion pricing program, which aims to alleviate traffic congestion and fund public transit improvements, is scheduled to begin just after midnight on Jan. 5.