We appreciate that Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has responded to our pleas for the past 20 years to expand the ferry service but are disappointed that there is no increased weekday service for our commuters. Rockland County commuters have very few public transit options to the city, and the current ferry service’s extremely limited “peak only” weekday schedule simply doesn’t work for folks who need to travel later in the morning, midday, early afternoon or later at night.
It is a good first step, though, towards improving and expanding transit service from Rockland County, as was required by the State's congestion pricing authorizing legislation. We look forward to MTA’s next step, which should be making a funding commitment in its Capital Plan for the Gateway and Bergen Loop projects and the corresponding Pascack Valley line investments that must be made in order to provide Rockland County’s one-seat-ride.
Discounting the Hudson Link and ferry Uniticket is good news as well, as are parking discounts for Rockland residents at White Plains. But with Rockland County's existing $40 million annual value gap, fares and parking should really be free. I sincerely hope that MTA gets to work soon to expand weekday ferry service and improve the quality of existing rail service from Rockland County so that our residents start to receive some level of equity for what they pay to the MTA.
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This is also why we’ve filed a lawsuit against the MTA & Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), over its grossly unfair Central Business District tolls, set to go into effect June 30th. These agencies are forcing Rocklanders and MTA’s other West of Hudson commuters - which include cops, firefighters, and others – to pay more simply for using their own vehicle to avoid being stranded by MTA’s current inadequate transit system.
Our lawsuit contends that it violates Equal Protection Clause, as it discriminates against drivers from outside the Central Business District because those in the zone can drive around for hours with no penalty. We also contend it is an illegal tax and an excessive fine as it penalizes a legal activity.
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We have about 4,000 residents who commute into the Central Business District; a small drop in the bucket for MTA - and these commuters deserve an exemption.
Lastly, to claim congestion is worse now than a few years ago seems hard to believe. Since the pandemic, only 60% of the workforce is back daily in the City of New York and the population of New York City is down 6%. Plus, MTA’s own data shows that 53% of the vehicles in the CBD are for-hire vehicles and taxis. Despite that reality, the MTA & TBTA are pushing through this hefty tax on hardworking individuals on top of record-breaking inflation, high gas prices and interest rates.
It is an insult to families who are already struggling to keep up and why I pledge to not stop fighting this Congestion tax and for better transit service for my County commuters.
