MTA approves Gov. Hochul's plan to pause NYC congestion toll, pulling $16.5 billion from agency's budget



The Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted on Wednesday to support New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's (D) plan to pause the Manhattan congestion toll indefinitely, the New York Post reported.

Earlier this month, Hochul pumped the brakes on the MTA's congestion pricing plan, arguing it would put "undue strain on already stressed New Yorkers."

'It would be fundamentally unfair to the outer boroughs.'

If implemented, to drive on 60th Street and below, most passenger vehicles would be charged $15, motorcyclists $7.50, small trucks and charter buses $24, and large trucks and tour buses $36. The cameras are already installed and the city would use the state's existing E-ZPass system to collect most tolls. Those without a pass would be charged higher fees for their commute.

The plan to implement a congestion toll and the MTA's pricing structure have faced several legal challenges.

New Jersey filed a lawsuit in April, claiming it would put an economic strain on its residents, Blaze News previously reported. The complaint argued that the city "failed to adequately consider the environment impacts" and "ignored the significant financial burden being placed on New Jerseyans and New Jersey's transportation system."

The Trucking Association of New York also filed a lawsuit stating that the MTA's pricing framework "disproportionately targets" truckers and logistics companies, which would be fined at a higher rate than passenger vehicles.

Amid the pushback, Hochul announced that she would temporarily pause the congestion toll, which was previously slated for June 30.

"Let's be real: a $15 charge may not mean a lot to someone who has the means, but it can break the budget of a working- or middle-class household," she stated. "It puts the squeeze on the very people who make this city go."

On Wednesday, the MTA board voted 10-1 to pause the implementation of the toll despite noting that it would effectively reduce its budget by $16.5 billion. The funds were slated to go toward public transit improvements.

More than 100 New York residents attended the recent board meeting; most expressed support for the toll. Some carried signs reading, "Gov, Stop Jamming Up Good Law," "Congestion Pricing = Faster Commutes," and "Fix the Subway!"

Janno Lieber, the MTA CEO, said, "We will be ready to put Humpty Dumpty back together as quickly as possible."

"We can keep the machinery of congestion pricing in operating order so it's ready when the temporary pause is in fact lifted," he added.

Assembly member Michael Tannousis (R) stated that he opposes the toll.

"I am a major opponent of congestion pricing because I believe, and evidence has shown, it would be fundamentally unfair to the outer boroughs, especially Staten Island and especially Bay Ridge," Tannousis said. "Don't get me wrong, I am a user of mass transit. I use the Express bus and I also use the subway. However, this plan would have been to the benefit of a few and the detriment of many."

In a statement released after the MTA board's vote, Hochul promised to find "new revenue sources."

"While the timing of the next budget may necessitate temporary adjustments to the timeline of certain contracts, there is no reason for New Yorkers to be concerned that any planned projects will not be delivered," she remarked.

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Truckers sue New York over congestion toll pricing: ‘Charged far higher rates than passenger vehicles’



The Trucking Association of New York filed a lawsuit Thursday against New York over its plan to implement a congestion toll for Manhattan commuters. TANY argued that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's pricing framework “disproportionately targets” truckers.

“The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York this morning, argues that the congestion pricing policy unfairly targets trucking and logistics companies, which are charged far higher rates than passenger vehicles,” TANY wrote in a post on X Friday.

'TANY has advocated for an exemption of the supply chain industries.'

The association noted that it is “not fundamentally opposed to congestion pricing” but is “fighting to overturn the current version of this plan.”

The MTA, Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, and New York Attorney General Letitia James are listed as defendants in the suit.

The complaint read, “Several vehicle classes are fully exempt from the Tolling Program. Most notably, New York City Taxis and For-Hire Vehicles (such as Uber and Lyft), despite making up more than half of all vehicle traffic in the Zone, will pay nothing for entering.”

“The only vehicle classes with no full or partial exemptions are commercial trucks and vans,” it continued, noting that such vehicles only make up 4% of all traffic in the congestion toll zone.

“To make the unfairness of this tolling structure even worse, TANY trucks are unable to take advantage of subways and buses to complete their necessary deliveries, so they have no choice but to enter and re-enter the Zone as many times per day as required to meet their customers’ needs,” the lawsuit stated.

The association also noted that it will not benefit from the estimated $1 billion per year the tolls are expected to generate, as those funds are slated to go toward the city’s subways, buses, and railroads.

TANY called for the implementation of the congestion toll to be halted.

Depending on the size, trucks could be charged $24 or $36 to drive on 60th Street and below. Most passenger vehicles will be charged $15, and motorcyclists $7.50.

City officials predict that the congestion toll plan will reduce traffic in the area by 17%.

“TANY has advocated for an exemption of the supply chain industries from the Tolling Program; pricing parity between trucks and passenger vehicles; or at the very least a once-per-day charge to trucks entering the Central Business District, similar to that afforded to passenger vehicles or any combination of these alternatives,” the association’s complaint read.

The congestion toll is slated to take effect on June 30. The city is currently facing several lawsuits over the plan.

The MTA decline a request for comment from Fox Business.

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'It's insane!' NYC to impose controversial congestion tax costing commuters thousands, top Democrat calls plan a rip-off



New York City has come one step closer to imposing a controversial congestion tax that would cost commuters thousands of dollars. Many have already voiced strong opposition to the congestion pricing plan, including the Democrat governor of New Jersey, who called the plan a rip-off for commuters.

On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board overwhelmingly voted 9-1 to approve the congestion pricing — the first of its kind in the United States. There will now be a 60-day public comment period; then the MTA will finalize a toll schedule with proposed rates before public hearings in February.

The congestion pricing would charge motorists entering Manhattan’s central business district – 60th Street and everything south to the tip of the financial district. However, there are four different tunnels that land below 60th Street: the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels from New Jersey, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel from Brooklyn, and the Queens-Midtown Tunnel from Long Island.

Motorists driving cars will have to pay $15 a day to enter the central business district. Trucks would be charged $24 to $36, depending on size. Motorcycles would be charged $7.50. Taxis would be charged $1.25 per ride, while rideshare services like Uber and Lyft would be hit with a $2.50 surcharge.

NY1 reported, "A closer look at the plan reveals that only cars with E-ZPasses will see the $15 base fare. Those without E-ZPasses will pay $22.50 to drive into the central business district."

Full rates are in effect from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on the weekends. During the off-peak times, rates would be about 75% less.

However, New York City officials could increase the congestion pricing.

NJ.com noted, "The two additions to the fee structure were in the fine print of MTA board action items and include two potential fee increases – a 25% higher congestion pricing fee to enter the central business district during Gridlock Alert Days and a potential 10% increase or decrease to the fee for up to one year after implementation."

Drivers who earn less than $50,000 a year will receive 10 free entries per month, after which they’ll have to pay half price.

According to WNBC, "The review board said that implementing their congestion pricing plan is expected to reduce the number of vehicles entering the area by 17%. That would equate to 153,000 fewer cars in that large portion of Manhattan."

The congestion pricing is estimated to bring in $15 billion in revenue to the MTA.

"Much of the cash will go toward the MTA’s 2020-24 Capital Program. For example, some of the proceeds will finance four new Metro-North stations for communities in the Bronx," CNBC reported. "The MTA is also speeding up investment in clean bus technology. The agency expects to begin experimenting with hydrogen fuel cell bus technology in 2025."

"Excess traffic is costing the New York City region $20 billion a year," said Kathy Wylde – a member of the Traffic Mobility Review Board and the head of the Partnership for New York City.

There have been many outspoken critics of the congestion pricing plan.

A driver said, "It’s insane! What are they, crazy? We already have enough high fees."

Last month, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. said the MTA will "impose an unfair and ill-conceived congestion pricing tolling scheme on New Jersey commuters." He also said the congestion tax would be "ripping off New Jersey commuters to pay for whatever financial hardships the MTA is facing."

“Despite our interconnected and interdependent regional economy and transportation system, New York officials did not meaningfully consult with us from the outset and instead treated New Jerseyans as a convenient way to fill an MTA budget hole," Murphy stated.

Murphy said he supports congestion pricing, as long as it is "structured in a way that is fair to all sides," but added that this "plan is neither fair nor equitable."

Murphy argued that the congestion tax will "lead to toll shopping, increased congestion in underserved communities, and excessive tolling at New Jersey crossings into Manhattan."

The N.J. governor threatened, "We are left with no choice than to continue addressing our concerns through litigation."

New Jersey launched a lawsuit to try to stop the MTA from enacting the tax plan.

Mark Sokolich – the mayor of Fort Lee in New Jersey – filed a federal class-action lawsuit last month to block the congestion pricing.

Staten Island previously said it would also sue the MTA over the proposal.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said, "I know there's going to be an impact, but we have to also deal with the larger picture-protecting and cleaning up our environment, protecting the quality of air, protecting mobility on our streets, and also protecting our financial stability of the MTA, because without that, it all collapses."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on Thursday, "We don’t want to overburden working-class New Yorkers, but those who are just driving for convenience, whatever the price is, they need to pay that price."

Congestion taxes have already been implemented in cities such as Milan, London, Singapore, and Stockholm.

The MTA wants to implement congestion pricing in late spring 2024.

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