Metro
New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday demanded “come clean” from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority about how much money New York state will collect from congestion fees planned for Manhattan.
Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer says MTA executives are hiding details of the plan’s major revenue boost, which Empire State transportation officials predict could bring in $1 billion a year. and called for “transparency” in the $15 toll for motorists entering midtown Manhattan.
“Why won’t the MTA come clean about the congestion charge?” Gottheimer said at a news conference in Fort Lee. “Why can’t they tell us exactly how much money hard-working families and commuters make each year?”
Click here for the latest information on New York City congestion charges.
A $15 congestion charge for cars south of 60th Street in New York City could begin as early as mid-June, lawyers for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this week.
Transportation officials estimate the tolls could raise $1 billion a year to fund major upgrades to the MTA’s subway, commuter rail and bus systems.
It is the first congestion pricing system in the nation and has sparked multiple lawsuits, including from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, teachers unions, and 18 New York state legislators.
of represent a trade union New York City’s approximately 400,000 government employees also support Murphy’s federal lawsuit.
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Council President Adrian Adams have declined to support the state’s controversial congestion pricing proposal. Adams said he believes the city should have had more “power and control” over the situation and that it likely would have resulted in a “different version.”
City Hall is calling for the MTA to include provisions that would exempt city employees and people driving to hospitals from tolls.
The lawmaker argued that the MTA is keeping its toll revenue projections closely hidden because toll revenue is likely to far exceed the $1 billion expected.
“Are we going to raise the $1 billion we are legally required to raise, or are we going to raise more?” Gottheimer said. “They’re refusing to come clean. To me, that’s a big red flag.”
Following repeated (but ineffective) requests for “transparency” from the MTA, the lawmaker requested the agency under the Freedom of Information Act to disclose data, calculations and emails used to calculate revenue projections. He said that he had submitted a request for the submission of the following.
“We deserve to know if they’re going to make our families suffer with congestion taxes that charge us thousands of dollars a year. We have a right to know all the facts. But as you probably noticed, I think everything about the MTA is a black box,” he said.
Under a controversial plan aimed at curbing peak-hour congestion, the MTA would charge drivers $15 a day if they enter Manhattan’s central business district below 60th Street. It turns out.
Mr. Gottheimer, who is part of the group of lawmakers in both New York and New Jersey fighting the tax proposal, denounced the cost as “insanely high.”
“I’m talking about real, old-fashioned shellacking for up to $22.50 a day and $5,850 a year for your car, depending on whether you use EZPass or not,” he said. Told.
“This includes $17 a day in bridge and tunnel tolls, plus gas and parking costs. Over the course of a year, it can cost a family up to $10,000 just to commute to New York City every day. It may take a while.”
Lawyers for the MTA recently announced that the fee could be filed as early as mid-June, after years of delays and facing numerous lawsuits from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the teachers union, and 18 New York state legislators. It has become clear that there is a possibility that a change will begin.
Transportation officials said revenue from the tax will fund a $15 billion bond that will pay for major upgrades to the MTA’s subway, commuter rail and bus systems.
Meanwhile, MTA Director of External Affairs John McCarthy on Thursday applauded Gottheimer’s criticism, accusing him of failing to solve the Garden State’s own transportation problems.
“While the MTA has dramatically increased service while cutting its budget, Gridlock Gottheimer has not lifted a finger to resolve the New Jersey Transit Authority’s service problems and crumbling financial situation.” It’s worth it to be a ‘solver’,” McCarthy said in a statement.
“As the MTA completes ADA upgrades for the 2nd Avenue, Grand Central Madison, and East Side Access subways, system-wide ADA upgrades, and state-of-the-art signaling on the L and 7 lines, Congressman Gottheimer will continue to advance New York’s progress. They were complaining about not being able to complete the move on their side of the river.”
Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks
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