Senator Reichlin-Melnick Blasts MTA Congestion Pricing Plan for Rockland

ROCKLAND, NY - Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D-Rockland/Westchester) blasted the MTA for moving forward with a congestion pricing plan that could cost thousands of dollars a year for Rockland residents who have no quick or affordable mass transit options to reach New York City. The Senator is circulating a petition for Rockland residents to sign demanding that the MTA delay congestion pricing for Rockland residents until there is a one-seat ride to Manhattan. The petition is available via this link on Change.org. 

“Congestion pricing is just the latest tax that benefits NYC at the expense of Rockland residents. For commuters, these costs could be thousands of dollars a year. Unlike other parts of the metro area, Rockland residents have no quick or easy way to get into NYC by mass transit,” Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick said. “Until Rockland has a one-seat ride to Manhattan, congestion pricing is an unfair tax to subsidize a transit system that doesn’t equitably serve our community.”

During the gubernatorial debates in June, Governor Kathy Hochul indicated congestion pricing would not be implemented within the next year. But a statement released yesterday by the MTA announced that congestion pricing is "forging ahead". 

Senator Reichlin-Melnick called on the MTA to appoint a representative from west of the Hudson to the Traffic Mobility Review Board. Yesterday’s statement from the MTA announced the first five members of the six-member board. One is from Long Island, one from Westchester, and three from NYC. “This whole scheme is a big win for NYC, and those who will pay the biggest burden won’t even get a seat at the table.”

Senator Reichlin-Melnick commented on long-term solutions, “There are plans underway with funding from the federal infrastructure bill to get Rockland a one-seat ride to NYC. Until that happens, forcing commuters to pay thousands of extra dollars to get to work in NYC is totally unacceptable. In the long term, we need to think big and invest in transformative projects like reestablishing passenger service on the Westshore Line which is currently used for freight traffic. Bringing back passenger service would give tens of thousands of Rocklanders a new convenient way to get into Manhattan.”

The petition also alerts residents to upcoming opportunities for public comment on a soon-to-be-released environmental assessment on congestion pricing.