Ed Day Voices Concerns Over MTA Congestion Pricing Plan's Non-inclusion of Rockland County

by M. C. Millman 

Last week, the MTA announced the implementation of a new, five-member Traffic Mobility Review Board (TMRB) that will develop recommendations for toll rates and any credits, discounts, or exemptions if the Federal Highway Administration approves the implementation of congestion pricing. 

The rates will be based on traffic patterns, traffic mitigation measures, operating costs, vehicle types, public impact, public safety, peak, and off-peak rates, and environmental impacts. The board would then present the recommendations to the MTA Board for consideration before implementing the program. 

Of the five members of the board, there is zero representation of MTA's West of Hudson service region, which includes Rockland County.  

Rockland County Executive Ed Day responded to this lack of representation, saying, "Rockland County is the least served by the MTA of any other member of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District. Many of our resident commuters drive into Manhattan because of the dearth of transit options available to them and because of the sub-par and often unreliable rail service, which is operated by NJ Transit via contract with Metro-North, and extremely limited in quantity and dismal in quality."

As the only county in the MTA region with a value gap, Rockland County's residents and businesses pay more to MTA than they receive back in transit service and funding. The last study, verified by the MTA's analysis, placed that gap at around $40 million yearly. 

"The MTA is happy to take our money but loathe to provide service, and it is both insulting and disrespectful to the people of Rockland," says Day. "I urge that both the TMRB and the MTA Board ensure Rockland County residents receive a CBD toll exemption/discount and a river crossing toll credit as the congestion pricing plan process moves forward. Despite once again not having a seat at the table, I will be making sure that the plight of Rockland County commuters, who will be dramatically impacted by congestion pricing tolls, is known. I urge Rockland County residents to also make their voices heard next month at the upcoming public hearings."

Rockland County's MTA Board representative Frank Borelli also stated that he is voting against the approval of this new board because of its lack of representation for MTAs West of Hudson customers. 

Borelli urged his colleagues and the new board to "learn more about Rockland County's decades-long inequity in the MTA region and act to ensure the CBD Tolling Program includes an exemption or heavy discount for Rockland residents and a credit for tolls we already pay to get to Manhattan."

The agencies will begin collecting public feedback on the Environmental Assessment around August 10. Comments will be accepted online, via mail, email, voicemail, fax, and during a series of six online hearings accessible via mta.info/CBDTP at the dates and times listed below. 

Thursday, Aug. 25, 5 PM - 8 PM. 

Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 AM - 1 PM. 

Sunday, Aug. 28, 1 PM - 4 PM.

Monday, Aug. 29, 1 PM - 4 PM. 

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 5 PM - 8 PM. 

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 10 AM - 1 PM.