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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New Jersey pushes back on NYC's $15 congestion toll: 'You are not eliminating pollution; you are just displacing it'



New Jersey presented oral arguments on Wednesday in its lawsuit against New York over its $15-per-day congestion toll for Manhattan commuters. The complaint argues that the plan will place an economic strain on New Jersey residents and fail to reduce pollution, WABC-TV reported.

According to the lawsuit, the Federal Highway Administration approved New York City's toll but "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 complaint claims the federal government rushed through the approval without adequately reviewing the potential impacts.

Randy Mastro, a lawyer representing New Jersey in the case, called it "mind-boggling" that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority concluded the congestion toll would have "no significant impact" on traffic, the economy, or air quality in nearby areas, the New York Post reported. Mastro claimed that the FHWA's approval was "predetermined."

Mastro questioned whether the review "took a hard look into the adverse environmental impact" on the "entire region."

"They didn't consider New Jersey adequately," he stated.

As part of New York City's congestion toll plan, it set aside a $35 million mitigation commitment for the Bronx. However, it did not allocate any funds to New Jersey.

"There has been a mitigation commitment and in a dollar amount to the Bronx. Isn't that differentiated treatment, potentially rising to the level of arbitrariness?" Judge Leo Gordon asked MTA and FHWA lawyers.

Elizabeth Knauer, a lawyer representing the MTA, denied the claims of differentiated treatment.

New Jersey officials hope the legal action will force the federal government to conduct a more thorough evaluation. Governor Phil Murphy (D) contended that New York City's plan will only move pollution to surrounding areas.

"You are not eliminating pollution; you are just displacing it from Manhattan to New Jersey," Murphy stated Tuesday. "And you're charging our commuters an exorbitant fee on top of that."

Murphy has asserted that the city's plan is a "blatant cash-grab."

WABC reported that over 400,000 New Jersey residents commute into Manhattan every day. The new toll, slated to take effect in June, will require New Jersey commuters to pay millions of dollars to the MTA.

The lawsuit stated, "The end result is that New Jersey will bear much of the burden of this congestion pricing scheme — in terms of environmental, financial, and human impacts — but receive none of its benefits."

The MTA passed the controversial congestion toll in an 11-1 vote last week. Under the plan, most passenger vehicles will be charged $15 per day to drive on 60th Street and below. Small trucks and charter buses will be charged $24 per day, and large trucks and tour buses will be charged $36 per day. Motorcyclists will receive a $7.50 toll per day. The cost will drop by 75% in the evening. Commuters using taxis and black car services must pay an additional $1.25 fare, while Uber and Lyft passengers pay an extra $2.50.

New York City will use the state's existing E-ZPass system to collect most tolls. Drivers without a pass will be charged at a higher rate. For example, instead of $15 per day, passenger vehicles without an E-ZPass will be charged $22.50 per day.

Drivers making less than $50,000 per year could be eligible to receive a discount.

City officials anticipate the plan will reduce traffic by 17% and collect $1 billion annually. The funds gathered through the toll system will be used to improve public transportation.

Currently, the city is facing six lawsuits over the congestion toll plan.

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Mother of Manhattan teen who died 'subway surfing' files lawsuit, pinning blame on MTA and social media companies



The mother of a Manhattan teen who died while "surfing" a New York City subway train last year has filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, TikTok, and Instagram's parent company, Meta, suggesting they had a hand in her son's untimely demise.

"Social media and the MTA, they failed my son," Norma Nazario told WABC-TV.

Three months after a 15-year-old boy died while unlawfully surfing on a Brooklyn train, Zackery Nazario, also 15, climbed onto a New York City subway car headed for a similar tragedy.

A low beam struck Nazario in the head while he was traversing the Williamsburg Bridge atop the train on Feb. 20, 2023. He fell onto the tracks below and was run over.

The illegal practice of subway surfing has grown in popularity among youths in recent years. Reported incidents spiked from 206 in 2021 to 928 in 2022. The trend continued last year, claiming the lives of Zackery and at least four others. WNBC-TV indicated that between January and June 2023 alone, the MTA documented over 450 instances of subway surfing.

Already in 2024, there have been multiple deaths connected to subway surfing attempts.

After a teenager died in Brooklyn last month riding outside the train, Richard Davey, president of New York City Transit, reiterated, "Subway surfing kills. Another innocent life has been lost, and it should not happen," reported the New York Times.

According to Norma Nazario's lawsuit, filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court on the anniversary of her son's death, the MTA failed to provide adequate barriers to preclude youths from climbing on its trains, "creating a serious and foreseeable risk of harm," reported the New York Post. The suit also faults the system for apparently not locking train doors.

The lawsuit further alleges that social media companies bear some responsibility for Zackery's death, having supposedly "goaded" him into attempting the stunt by recommending videos of others performing the feat.

According to the suit, TikTok and Instagram are liable under state laws prohibiting the "unreasonably dangerous" design of products, having allegedly "targeted, goaded and encouraged" Zackery to subway surf.

This enticement allegedly took the form of a video recommendation to Zackery about the "Subway Surfing Challenge" prior to his fatal subway surfing attempt.

"What happened to Zackery was neither an accident or a coincidence," Matthew Bergman, the co-founder of the Social Media Victims Law Center and legal representative for the Nazario family, told the Post. "It was a foreseeable result of social media companies' intentional decision to design their products to be addictive to young people.

So-called surfers and witnesses routinely post videos of the dangerous stunts to social media.

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After Zackery's death, Janno Lieber, chair and CEO of the MTA, indicated that his organization had previously pressured social media companies about platforming videos showcasing subway surfing but would nevertheless double down on such efforts, reported The City.

"We're going to renew it again; this is something nobody wants to see," said Lieber. "A 15-year-old kid just breaks your heart, so we've got to keep pushing."

New York City Mayor Eric Adams drew attention to Zackery's fate and the dangers of subway surfing in June 2023, stressing, "Social media must be socially responsible. Subway Surfing kills. We need everyone to be a part of ending this dangerous threat."

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City and state officials kicked off the "Subway Surfing Kills — Ride Inside, Stay Alive" campaign in September, warning minors about the hazards of flouting law and convention in pursuit of train-related thrills, posting cautionary signs throughout the transit systems and broadcasting similar warnings.

In addition to the alerts, police have reportedly stationed after-school patrols on subway lines identified as being high risks for subway surfing. The Times indicated the patrols have so far stopped roughly 11 attempts a month.

Norma Nazario, seeking unspecified damages from the MTA and the social media companies, told the Post, "They could give me a billion dollars and I'm not going to stop."

"I'm not going to stop until the MTA and these social media companies start taking responsibility and stop killing our children," added Nazario.

It appears the Nazario family and their legal representative are not displacing the entirety of the blame for the tragedy.

"Zackery has some responsibility too," Bergman told WABC. "No one is saying that there was not shared fault here, but what we are saying is that this didn't have to happen."

While the MTA did not respond to the Post's request for comment, NYC Transit President Richard Davey said in a statement, "We've said it over and over — do not climb on top of trains because that won't end well, and we implore parents to tell their children and friends to warn friends — avoid tragedy by riding inside."

WABC indicated TikTok and Instagram have reportedly not yet commented on the lawsuit.

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NYC to finally issue official ban on pooping in subways and buses



New York City's government officials are reportedly ready to finally issue a formal ban on defecating in the city's subways, buses, and transit facilities this week, the New York Post reported.

Currently, the poop ban is just a temporary rule implemented in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wait. There wasn't already an official ban on subway pooping?

When New York City was being hit by the coronavirus, city officials chose to lockdown the city, force social distancing, and set up a system to snitch on fellow New Yorkers who might violate quarantine regulations.

Several weeks after the lockdown began, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) finally asked for the subway trains to be cleaned every night.

The announcement caught many New Yorkers — and their fellow Americans — by surprise, since they likely assumed daily cleaning of the subway cars was already a practice of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority — especially in light of the quickly escalating cases of COVID-19 in the city and the severe lockdown policies the local government had instituted.

As the virus spread through the Big Apple, the MTA also issued some other temporary emergency rules for the subway, including a ban on defecating on subways and buses.

According to the Post, the MTA is set to formally ban going No. 2 in Gotham's subway trains, buses, and transit facilities on Wednesday.

Other "bodily expulsions" are already specifically named in the MTA's formal rules as actions that can get a person a $100 fine. This new clarification from the MTA will specifically add "defecating" to the list of no-no's.

Nasty trains have been a problem for a while

The Post reported that people have long been griping about the nastiness of NYC subway trains and that complaints to the MTA about the "soiled" subway surged in 2019, but the government agency simply blamed the increased notification on riders being more vigilant, not on deteriorating transit conditions.

And it has not been just the public that has complained, the Post noted. Workers are tired of the filth, too:

[T]ransit workers have long complained of nasty conditions on trains. The workers' union, Transport Workers Union Local 100, launched a “Trash Train" photo contest last October to highlight the filth and protest cuts to cleaning crews.

The MTA issued a statement about the coming pooping ban and other rule changes.

"MTA rules are periodically tweaked to enhance clarity, and that's the case with the addition of more descriptive language," MTA spokesman Tim Minton said, the Post reported. "Ensuring the transportation system provides an appropriate quality of life experience for our workforce and customers is a guiding principle and top priority."