MTA: Anti-congestion pricing lawsuits jeopardize Brooklyn projects

February 28, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

The LIRR’s Atlantic Terminal, across from Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn. Wikipedia photo by Ajay Suresh

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday detailed projects across the subway system, buses, Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road that the agency says are at risk due to the lawsuits against congestion pricing.

Many important Brooklyn elected officials, such as Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Assemblymember Robert Carroll, and environmental groups like Bike South Brooklyn are supporters of congestion pricing, while others such as Ari Kagan are opponents.

An accessibility upgrade at the important Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street subway station in Boerum Hill could be jeopardized by lack of funds raised by congestion pricing, the MTA charges. Wikimedia photo by GeneralPunger

Supporters tend to stress benefits such as cleaner air and fewer traffic jams. Local opponents say it will penalize businesses that have to deliver goods back and forth between Manhattan and Brooklyn on a regular basis, as well as Brooklyn medical patients who have to take cabs to Manhattan hospitals.

There are currently at least half a dozen lawsuits against congestion pricing. Among the plaintiffs are a group of Lower East Side residents, Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, and the Municipal Labor Council, which claims that congestion pricing would penalize city employees who work in the congestion zone.

“Anticipated congestion pricing bond proceeds of $15 billion make up more than 50% of the remaining funds in the MTA’s 2020-2024 Capital Program,” the MTA said. “As a result, the MTA Capital Program must be largely placed on hold.”

The Euclid Avenue station on the Fulton Street line in Brooklyn. A vital signal modernization program along the line has already been delayed, the MTA says.
Wikimedia photo by GeneralPunger

Subway station accessibility upgrades in Brooklyn that the MTA claims could be delayed include Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street on the A. C and G trains; Neptune Avenue on the F train; 18th Avenue on the D train; Nostrand Avenue on the A and C trains; and Jefferson Street on the L train.

Of these stations, Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street is probably the most heavily used one. Since the G train does not go into Downtown Brooklyn, G riders who are headed there change there for the A and C. In addition, Hoyt-Schermerhorn is the location of a Transit Police district headquarters.

Also in the subway system, a vital signal modernization program along the Fulton Street line has already been delayed.

In addition, according to the MTA, funds from congestion pricing would enable the purchase of more than 250 new electric buses and 11 bus depots across the five boroughs to operate and maintain electric bus fleets.

In Brooklyn, these would mean upgraded facilities at the East New York Depot, the Jackie Gleason Depot in Sunset Park, and the Ulmer Park Depot in Southern Brooklyn.

Finally, lack of congestion pricing funding could delay water remediation at the Long Island Rail Road’s Atlantic Terminal (also known as Flatbush Avenue) in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

“Congestion Pricing is foundational to the MTA Capital Program,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer. “With the lawsuits challenging the program, critical projects to maintain and improve our transit system and more than 20,000 jobs are at risk of delay and disruption.”