MTA board votes 12-1 to approve revised congestion toll plan

November 18, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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CITYWIDE — THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY’S BOARD VOTED 12-1 ON MONDAY TO APPROVE the revised congestion pricing plan that Gov. Kathy Hochul announced late last week. MTA Chair Janno Lieber, speaking with Spectrum News NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan’s Mornings on 1 show, said that the new toll reading equipment is ready to go.

“The plan has always been to use that revenue stream to bond out up to $15 billion so that we can invest in new subway cars, commuter rail cars, new signals for better service, a lot of ADA station elevators, all that stuff may take a couple years to get the last couple billion dollars of the 15 with the lower toll,” Lieber said, praising the governor’s support.

The plan still has several hurdles before it is implemented on Sunday, Jan. 5. The Federal Highway Administration must first approve the plan and make sure that it aligns with the MTA’s 4,000 page environmental assessment that was approved last year, according to the Daily News. Transportation departments at the city, state and federal levels must ratify a final agreement enabling the toll funds to be applied to MTA funding.

The sole dissent in the board vote came from David Mack of Nassau county’s representative on the board, who argued that stronger enforcement of trucks and a toll on East River bridges would raise the needed revenue. The MTA’s studies did not support Mack’s claims.

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