CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN SLAMS MTA FOR 'UNFAIR, UNINFORMED, AND UNACCEPTABLE' CONGESTION PRICING PLAN, DEMANDS MTA HOLD IN-PERSON HEARINGS IN HUDSON VALLEY
Congressman Pat Ryan Slams MTA for ‘Unfair, Uninformed, and Unacceptable’ Congestion Pricing Plan, Demands MTA Hold In-Person Hearings in Hudson Valley
Metropolitan Transportation Authority plan would charge Hudson Valley families $15 per day to commute to Manhattan Central Business District
MTA recently opened public comment period, but only scheduled hearings in NYC, further proving their lack of concern for Hudson Valley voices
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan slammed the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for its “unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable” congestion pricing plan, charging families as much as $5,000 per year (in addition to the MTA tax!) without providing adequate public transportation options in the Hudson Valley. In a letter to MTA CEO Janno Lieber, Ryan demanded the MTA hold in-person hearings in the Hudson Valley to hear first-hand from the working people and families whose needs they’ve ignored for decades.
“For decades, the MTA has systematically failed the Hudson Valley – there’s not a single MTA station in Ulster, there’s still no one-seat service in Orange, and there’s limited service in Dutchess. Now, without providing any service additions and without even hearing from those impacted, they want to charge working class families an extra $5,000 per year just to go to work. It’s unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable, and everything that’s wrong with New York City’s approach to policy making outside the 5 boroughs,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “I’m demanding the MTA hold in-person hearings in the Hudson Valley to hear first-hand from the working class families whose opinions they’ve ignored for decades. Hudson Valley families already don’t get the service they pay for – we won’t continue to subsidize New York City with nothing in return.”
The MTA’s proposed plan would implement a $15 toll on standard automobiles and up to a $36 toll for trucks to enter the Manhattan Central Business District. The Central Business District is defined as Manhattan below 60th Street. The new congestion pricing fees would be in addition to current fees for entry to the city via the Lincoln and Holland tunnel from New Jersey, and the Queens-Midtown and High L. Carey tunnels from Queens and Brooklyn. Additionally, Orange and Dutchess County residents already pay an MTA tax, on top of county and state taxes.
Additionally, the MTA has not yet made available discounts for commuting city employees, such as public safety officers, public transport workers, or farmers delivering agricultural products to the city.
The MTA introduced its congestion pricing plan to reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan and promote alternative transportation methods. However, public transit options from the Hudson Valley to Manhattan are still very limited, and there is no MTA plan to use these additional revenues to bolster Hudson Valley service. The congestion pricing would, as a result, place a disproportionate economic burden on commuters from the Hudson Valley.
Congressman Ryan has spearheaded other efforts to lower the cost of living for Hudson Valley families. He recently introduced his Stopping Pharma’s Ripoffs and Drug Savings For All Act to lower the cost of prescription drugs and cosponsors the American Family Act to expand the child tax credit. Congressman Ryan has led efforts to hold Central Hudson accountable for its egregious billing practices and has repeatedly demanded it halt its plans for a rate hike until all billing issues are resolved.
Congressman Ryan is a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
A copy of Ryan’s letter to MTA Chief Executive Officer Janno Lieber and MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer appears below:
Dear Mr. Lieber,
In response to the November 2023 toll structure recommendations published by the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB), I demand the MTA hold in-person hearings in Orange, Ulster, and Dutchess Counties in my Congressional District. For decades, the MTA has systematically failed the Hudson Valley, ignoring our interests while gladly taking our tax dollars. The proposed Commercial Business District (CBD) Tolling Program is unfair, uninformed, and unacceptable and everything that is wrong with New York City’s approach to policy making outside the 5 boroughs.
The proposed toll of $15 a day for standard passenger automobiles amounts to about $5,000 per year. My hardworking constituents simply cannot afford to–and should not have to–subsidize MTA transit upgrades in New York City. The MTA does not provide a viable alternative to driving to work for my constituents and there is extremely limited MTA service in my district. Specifically, Ulster County does not have an MTA station, there is no one-seat service in Orange County, and service in Dutchess County is also limited. Punishing suburban New York residents with a congestion price that will not increase their level of access to MTA services is appalling.
MTA must not outsource funding for NYC transit upgrades to my hardworking constituents. Health care professionals, teachers, farmers, and the officers at the New York City Fire and Police Departments living in my district and working in New York City will face undue financial hardship by this toll. To deny any credit or reimbursement to the NYPD and FDNY officers commuting to work in the city is an especially offensive blow to the hardworking men and women that live in my district, but protect your city. Additionally, this toll will force regional farmers to walk away from their farms for good. Agricultural producers in the region commonly transport their produce to New York City, as city residents pay a premium for fresh, locally grown goods. New York City demand for local produce is a lifeline market for growers, and a $24 or $36 toll for trucks carrying these goods would effectively cut off access to this critical market. Farming is a time-honored tradition in my community and this toll structure will force Hudson Valley farms out of business.
I strongly disagree with the recommendation’s claim that this proposed toll is affordable for low-income drivers who do not have a choice but to drive to work. Contrary to the MTA’s position, $5,000 per year is a significant amount of money and will place significant hardships on families. Further, only providing a discount for individuals making less than $50,000 is an affront to the middle class families all over New York State.
The TMRB’s proposed CBD Tolling Program would force my constituents to pay an outrageous amount of money so they can merely show up to work. As the MTA is arranging for in-person public hearings in the spring, I demand the MTA conduct additional hearings outside of New York City. I’m calling on the MTA to hold in-person hearings in Orange, Ulster, and Dutchess
Counties to hear directly from the hardworking people that would be impacted by this toll structure. The MTA must not outsource funding from my constituents to bankroll a transit overhaul in New York City.
Sincerely,
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