President Trump said he plans to meet New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday to discuss a major pipeline project and “other things,” which could include congestion pricing for motorists in Manhattan.
New York blocked the Constitution natural gas pipeline in 2020 over water-quality issues, but Mr. Trump said Thursday the project is needed for the Empire State and parts of New England.
The president said the pipeline could save thousands of dollars per family in energy costs.
“Just a simple pipeline going through an area that wants it,” Mr. Trump said. “I hope we don’t have to use the extraordinary power of the federal government to get it done. But if we have to, we will. But I don’t think we’ll have to.”
“I can tell you Connecticut wants and all of New England wants it, and who wouldn’t want it?” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump called Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, a “very nice woman” and said the meeting would kick off at 9 a.m.
Ms. Hochul is likely to raise another issue — congestion pricing — during the meeting.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently moved to cancel the project, saying a new toll on vehicles in downtown Manhattan is unfair to commuters and businesses and was improperly set up to fund public transit.
New York officials have gone to court to defend the program, saying it made traffic in the central part of the city more manageable and improved bus times.
