Congress members from both sides of the Hudson River have formed a bipartisan caucus aimed at scuttling the MTA’s controversial congestion pricing plan to toll drivers entering the Midtown Manhattan business district.
The caucus, announced at a Wednesday press event, includes New York GOP Reps. Nicole Malliotakis and Michael Lawler and New Jersey Reps. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat, and Tom Kean Jr., a Republican.
Passed in 2019, the MTA’s congestion pricing program aims to reduce overall traffic in Manhattan’s downtown by charging anywhere from $9 to $23.
At a joint event in Manhattan near the Lincoln Tunnel, Malliotakis and Gottheimer claimed the congestion toll imposed south of 60th Street will only hurt motorists, discourage tourism and divert pollution to the outer boroughs and northern New Jersey.
The pair also said they’re introducing legislation that — if approved — would have the inspector general of the US Transportation Department examine the MTA’s books.
“We’re here to fight the fight and make sure we defeat this congestion pricing cash grab,” said Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn).
She also called on the feds to order a sweeping environmental review of the congestion tolling plan under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Lawsuits will fly if the feds bypass such a review, the congresswoman said.
Gottheimer claimed the MTA is badly mismanaged with billions in project cost overruns and is looking for commuting motorists to bail them out.
“They’re looking desperately for cash to fill the significant hole they dug for themselves,” the Jersey congressman said.
“As the old Wendy’s ad said, `Where’s the Beef?’ My question to the MTA is, `Where did all the money go that we sent you?'”
But the MTA, in its response, defended the congestion toll plan, citing a Post story Tuesday on a study that found New York City is the most traffic-choked metropolis in the nation.
“Yesterday it was reported that New York City has the most traffic congestion of any city across the United States, and incredibly today, we have members of Congress driving into midtown Manhattan trying to make sure those traffic problems remain,” said MTA external affairs chief John McCarthy.
“The bottom line is that reducing car and truck traffic is good for the environment, good for getting fire trucks, buses and delivery vehicles through the city, and good for the 90% of people who depend on mass transit.”
Meanwhile, transit advocates slammed the congress members as shortsighted and irresponsible.
“The ‘defund transit’ caucus is a slap in the face to millions of hardworking New Yorkers and New Jerseyans who depend on our region’s buses and trains each and every day,” said NYC Riders Alliance spokesman Danny Pearlstein.
“Without congestion pricing, the representatives’ constituents will be stuck on gridlocked buses, delayed by unreliable subways, and shut out of inaccessible stations for decades to come. Rather than pursue better infrastructure, these supposed public servants today pander to a handful of their constituents and foment a harmful transportation culture war for private gain.”
