Only Two Days Left to Submit Comments on Congestion Pricing Plan

by M.C. Millman

The public is encouraged to participate in the public comment period on the upcoming Congestion Pricing Plan, which could cost drivers an estimated $23 on top of gas and tolls for the privilege of driving in Manhattan South of 60th Street.

The period for public comment expires on September 9. It follows a series of six virtual public hearings on the proposed congestion pricing program, known formally as the Central Business District Tolling Program, which began last week, with the first session taking place on Thursday, August 25. The new Congestion Pricing fee could come into effect as early as next year.

"This is an issue that hasn't fully broken through into most people's conscience," Senator Elijah Rechlin-Melnick tells Rockland Daily. "People are more attuned to what's happening right now. They're too focused on worries over high gas and food prices to worry about future things. My goal is to get people to notice and to really understand what a concern this is and how problematic it will be for Rockland if the MTA moves ahead with this."

Rockland commuters will suffer the most from this new pricing plan as, unlike other parts of the metro area, Rockland residents have no quick or easy way to get into NYC by mass transit. As there is no one-seat ride to Manhattan other than driving, Rechlin-Melnick encourages locals to fill out the petition he started for Rockland commuters to share with the MTA their comments about how devastating this plan will be. The petition can be found at https://www.change.org/p/no-congestion-pricing-for-rockland. Nearly 650 Rocklanders have registered their protest to the Congestion Pricing Plan through the petition, along with thousands of others who have left comments on their own for the MTA.

"I encourage people to take advantage of the remaining public comment period," says the Senator, "and let the MTA know directly just how damaging this will be for Rockland."

Senator Rechlin-Melnick says that if, despite commuters' best efforts to prevent the pricing plan from coming about, the MTA still moves forward, he is already working on major legislation for January to offer credit or exempt Rockland commuters from congestion pricing.

As the plan stands now, it's unsustainable," says Rechlin-Melnick. "It's not like income tax where if you're wealthy, you pay a higher tax rate. This hits every commuter equally. That does not seem very fair at all."