Now that the congestion pricing plan has been given the green light by the governor to move forward in January, Rockland County is resuming its lawsuit against it to try to keep it from being implemented. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says the MTA’s spending plan will take the funds raised from the toll and put it into projects that have little to do with Rockland commuters, making it entirely unfair to them and many other west-of-Hudson drivers. Day says Governor Kathy Hochul’s attempt to get mileage out of offering a lower fee than last June is hardly transparent…
The new plan is expected to charge most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan and go below 60th Street, but in 2028 it’ll go up to $12 and then $15 in 2031. There are carve-outs for emergency vehicles, buses and transportation for the elderly, the disabled, and for those with health conditions who can’t use mass transit. Rockland County District Five Legislator, Minority Leader Lon Hofstein of Clarkstown, says, as usual, Rockland commuters end up losing out more than others…
The plan cleared its final obstacle Friday, getting approval from the Federal Highway Administration to begin the program as a pilot project. It still faces opposition from area Congressional representatives who are looking to cut federal funding to the MTA if congestion pricing does go though.