NYC congestion pricing: Rep. Malliotakis, colleagues introduce bills to ‘reverse’ the tolling program

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) has joined two of her congressional colleagues from New Jersey in reintroducing bills to curb NYC congestion pricing.

Last week, Malliotakis along with Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) submitted bills that would impact the MTA’s controversial tolling plan.

First, the Economic Impact of Tolling Act would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin a full economic impact analysis of congestion pricing. It would also pull federal approval for the plan until the analysis is complete.

Another, the Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act, would require the DOT to audit how the MTA has spent federal funding over the last five years.

“Governor Hochul and Janno Lieber will go to any length to continue treating hardworking New Yorkers like bottomless ATMs,” said Malliotakis in a statement.

“We are already starting to see the negative impact this burdensome tax will have on working-class New Yorkers and small businesses who are already being taxed to death, and with the help of President Trump we will continue to use every legislative and legal avenue at the federal level to reverse this disastrous cash grab brought to us by Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature,” she continued.

Congestion pricing refers to using electronic tolling to charge vehicles for entering certain areas of Manhattan — the Congestion Relief Zone — during peak commuting hours. This aims to reduce traffic congestion and raise money for public transportation upgrades.

Revenue generated from the program will be bonded and used to fund around $15 billion worth of capital projects in the city’s aging transit systems.

The MTA recently released preliminary data, which it said reflects an initial success for the tolling program.

Earlier in January, Malliotakis also introduced two bills that, if enacted, could stop congestion pricing.

H.R.352 and H.R.351 would both amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to prohibit congestion pricing programs in New York City and across the country, respectively.

Malliotakis has spoken with President Donald Trump about congestion pricing during what she called a “productive” meeting with the then-incoming president.

The congresswoman confirmed that Trump “does not like congestion pricing” and made it “clear” he wants to stop it.

They are “trying to find a federal solution to a problem that was created by the state” and are “working with the president on the legal angle for him to reverse it,” Malliotakis told the Advance/SILive.com.

“He [Trump] understands the negative impact this has on New York City’s economy and on working families, firefighters, police officers, nurses, restaurant workers. People have to go in for health care, health appointments, chemotherapy. They’re getting crushed with this tax,” she explained.

On Inaguration Day, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy asked President Donald Trump to follow up on a campaign promise to end congestion pricing.

Murphy said he believes that the plan was not properly studied and contends that it was rushed in secret through the federal approval process so it could be implemented before Trump took office.