An Orange County lawmaker is threatening to throw his support behind a lawsuit filed last month by the state of New Jersey trying to scrap the MTA’s congestion pricing plan.
State Sen. James Skoufis (D-New Windsor) is demanding the MTA make a carve out for his Orange and Rockland County commuters in the scheme that would put a $15 per day fare on entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
“If a major toll offset is not advanced for Orange and Rockland county residents, all of whom live in a transit desert, I will be supporting New Jersey’s lawsuit to strike down congestion pricing,” Skoufis said.
Skoufis’ concerns mostly fell on deaf ears at MTA’s board meeting Wednesday, as members voted nine to one on letting the fare plan go to a public comment period.
Nassau county’s rep was the only vote in opposition.
“Moving forward with these congestion pricing recommendations is a disgrace,” Skoufis said. “$30 for the ‘privilege’ of driving into Manhattan when my constituents do not have a mass transit alternative is outright theft.”
Rockland County state Senator Peter Harckam and Nassau County state Sen. Kevin Thomas are calling for offsets for their commuters as well.
“I will continue to push for reasonable exemptions and ensure the MTA does not lose sight of the unique needs of our region’s commuters,” Thomas said.
The comment period will include four public hearings throughout February and March. MTA officials hope to have the fares in place in May.
Suburban MTA board members weren’t the only ones looking for carve outs in the plan. Members that represent Mayor Eric Adams and Westchester to exempt school buses from the tolls; the city representatives have asked that yellow cabs be exempted too.
Members based within the city want offsets for taxis and school buses too. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber casted doubt on how much the board would want to alter the proposal as it exists now.
“We look at it as something that in an ideal world we wouldn’t mess with too much,” Lieber said.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who appeared with Lieber at an event celebrating the congestion pricing plan Tuesday, hailed the MTA’s vote to move it forward as a victory.
“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 wrote in a Wednesday after the MTA’s vote
Proponents of congestion pricing frame it as providing a much needed boost to MTA’s coffers, opening up revenue to fund projects like the interborough express and finishing the 2nd Avenue subway.
