MTA Congestion Pricing Hearings Begin, Rocklanders Urged To Protest

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — On Thursday the MTA begins hearings for its Congestion Pricing Plan, which could result in commuters paying an additional $9 to $23 to drive in Manhattan below 61st Street — and local officials are urging residents to speak out in protest.

"It is patently absurd that the cost of maintaining and improving New York City's transit system is being placed on Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess County residents," Assemblyman Mike Lawler, the GOP candidate for Congressional District 17, said at a news briefing Aug. 10. SEE: Rockland Leaders Slam MTA's Congestion Pricing Plan

Lawler, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, State Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick and Assemblymember Kenneth Zebrowski are among many public officials who have held news briefings to alert the public to the issue.

"I and my fellow elected officials are fighting against this travesty with every tool at our disposal,” Day said. “Your voices are critical to a victory as the MTA needs to see a loud and united front if we are going to stop this plan. Please support us in our fight to protect you and make your voices heard by the MTA.”

Many Rockland County residents are forced to drive into Manhattan due to the scarcity of transit options available, compounded by the sub-par, and often unreliable, rail service operated by NJ Transit via contract with Metro-North, which is extremely limited in quantity and dismal in quality, Day said.

Zebrowski and Reichlin-Melnick announced Wednesday they will be introducing a bill to ensure Rockland residents aren’t “double tolled” by being forced to pay to get to Manhattan by bridge or tunnel then charged again to enter the congestion pricing zone.

The congestion pricing plan seems self-destructive, given already soaring costs and the fact that people are already moving out of New York State, said Haverstraw Town Supervisor Howard T. Phillips, Jr.

"It is a major disincentive to go to Manhattan, which still has not fully recovered from the Covid-19 crisis," he said. "Additionally, burdening the businesses and residents is not a solution that we should be pursuing."

The MTA established its new Central Business District Tolling Program's Traffic Mobility Review Board without any representation of MTA's West of Hudson service region, which includes Rockland County.

Yet Rockland is the only county in the MTA region that has a value gap, meaning residents pay more than the county receives in transit service and funding. The last formal study placed that gap at about $40 million each year.

Since that analysis, MTA has made zero improvements to the Pascack Valley Line rail service schedule and one significant capital improvements to facilities, equipment, or service in Rockland County, the Nanuet Train Station platform and shelter, Day said. SEE: MTA Unveils New And Improved Nanuet Metro-North Station

Rockland residents are urged to speak out at upcoming MTA Public Hearings on the project's Environmental Assessment, which begin Thursday.

The hearings will be accessible via the project's website: NYC Central Business District Tolling Program (mta.info). Here is the schedule.

• Thursday, Aug. 25, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 29, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 30, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You can sign up to speak during any of the six virtual hearings. Written comments can be submitted online at any time through Sept. 10.

For more information about the public hearings click here.