Congestion Pricing Crushed by Federal Government

Last week, news broke that the President of the United States pulled the federal authorization for Congestion Pricing—a toll this administration has fought back against hard since day one. This decision was a long-overdue victory for Rockland County and hardworking commuters across our region.

More than a decade ago, an MTA analysis exposed Rockland County’s staggering $40 million value gap between what we pay into the MTA and what we receive in services. Yet, despite years of advocacy, nothing has changed. Rockland still lacks any major transit investment or a one-seat ride into the Central Business District, leaving our residents with no choice but to drive into the city. Instead of being acknowledged and supported, we were expected to shoulder yet another financial burden for a system that has never served us fairly.

Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA should not be punishing hardworking families who are simply trying to make a living. Instead, they must first invest in the necessary transit infrastructure to make public transportation a viable option. Expanding service, improving efficiency, and addressing longstanding inequities should be the priority—not another regressive tax disguised as a congestion reduction plan.

The President’s decision to kill Congestion Pricing affirms what my administration has said from the very beginning—this was never about reducing congestion. It was always about plugging the MTA’s budget gaps and forcing drivers to pay for the agency’s fiscal mismanagement.

The MTA already loses an estimated $700 million annually to fare evasion, and it was recently reported that the agency has racked up over $5.1 billion in unpaid tolls and violations since 2021—$1.4 billion in 2024 alone. That is money that should have been collected and reinvested into the system, but instead, it has been lost due to a lack of enforcement and oversight.

The MTA needs to fix its own house before forcing more financial burdens on the people who actually pay their fares and tolls. Rockland County residents deserve better, and I will continue to stand against any attempts to revive this unjust congestion pricing plan.

Our relentless efforts in exposing the sheer absurdity of this proposal played a key role in driving the decision to put an end to this misguided toll. We are grateful to all the fellow elected officials who stood with us in opposition, making it clear that this plan was nothing more than a cash grab at the expense of working families.

We now urge the new administration to take the next step—conduct a full audit of the MTA’s finances, because accountability is long overdue. Transparency and responsibility must be restored to an agency that has operated without real consequences for far too long.

Rockland County will not stop fighting for fair treatment, proper investment, and responsible governance.

While this is a battle won, our work is far from over as we continue to push for the transit options our residents deserve.