LI elected officials raise concerns over congestion pricing

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Elected officials from Long Island on both sides of the aisle are raising concerns over the proposed congestion pricing plan in New York City.

Now, they are calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to end her support for the plan.

“It’s nothing less than highway robbery for the part of the MTA,“ said New York Sen. Steve Rhoades, a Republican, at a press conference at the Mineola train station on Monday.

“What congestion pricing does is make it easier for the MTA it gives them a license to steal from every resident, from every commuter into New York City,” he added.

The calls to end the plan follow a vote from the MTA board last week to advance congestion pricing.

Under the plan, passenger car drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during daytime hours would be charged $15 electronically, while the fee for small trucks would be $24 and large trucks would be charged $36.

Cities such as London and Stockholm have similar programs in place, but New York City is poised to become the first in the United States.

Hochul is an advocate for the plan.

“Congestion pricing means cleaner air, better transit and less gridlock on New York City’s streets and today’s vote by the MTA Board is a critical step forward,” Hochul said last week after the board approved the proposal.

She said the approved plan “heeds my call to lower the toll rate by nearly 35 percent from the maximum rate originally considered. This initiative will make New York City a global leader in transportation policy, and I’m grateful for the work of the Traffic Mobility Review Board to bring us to this milestone.”

Rhoades said the plan would be a financial burden on those traveling into the city.

“This isn’t about cleaner air,” he said. “This isn’t about less traffic. This is about nothing more than money – money being thrown into the black hole that is the MTA.”

But LIRR Acting President Rob Free said that the transit system is enabling the regional economy to thrive.

“The Long Island Rail Road allows Long Island and regional economies to thrive and has greatly benefitted from capital investment, including $17 billion to modernize the LIRR with a new Manhattan terminal, rebuilt Concourse at Penn Station, a Main Line Third Track, double track to Ronkonkoma, and new station at Elmont-UBS Arena,” Free said in a written statement.

“The vast majority of Long Islanders who go to Manhattan use mass transit and take advantage of all these capital investments, and don’t contribute to the extreme congestion that causes ambulances, police, fire, and buses to be unable to move,” he added.

Meanwhile, New York State Sen. Monica Martinez, a Democrat, separately expressed concern about congestion pricing.

“I am deeply concerned over the MTA’s approval of NYC congestion pricing plan and the significant financial burden it would have on Long Islanders,” she said in a written statement.

“The $15 base fare for cars, coupled with additional charges for trucks and varying rates for different vehicles, raises serious equity issues,” she added. “We cannot ignore the potential impact on working families, small businesses, and individuals who depend on their vehicles for essential daily activities.”

She added that while “addressing congestion and its impact on the environment is crucial, we must prioritize a fair and inclusive approach that considers the diverse needs of our communities. I will be closely monitoring the public comment period to ensure that the voices of those most affected are heard, and that adjustments are made to alleviate the strain on hardworking residents.”

Rhoads said if the plan was “truly about reducing pollution and traffic congestion, the MTA could have cut LIRR, bus and subway fares to encourage the use of mass transit. Instead they raised them again, in addition to making it harder for people who need to drive into Manhattan for work, school, medical appointments or entertainment.”

But according to the MTA, congestion pricing would pay for $15 billion in investment to bring additional improvements to the public transportation system.

The MTA board will vote on the plan after a series of public hearings scheduled for February or March in 2024, officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.