Congestion Pricing by Ken Mahoney

Top Rockland lawmaker calls on state legislature to ‘put the brakes on’ congestion pricing plan by Ken Mahoney

Many Rockland business owners will be impacted by the law if passed.

Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell and Legislator Ilan Schoenberger Friday introduced legislation calling on the state legislature to reject the controversial congestion pricing plan under consideration for Manhattan.

The New York City Traffic Congestion Mitigation Commission this week approved a congestion pricing plan that must now be approved by the New York City council and state legislature.

Under the plan, motorists entering Manhattan south of 60th Street on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. would be charged $8, while trucks would pay $21. Motorists driving on the FDR Drive and West Side Highway would also be charged and there would be a $1 surcharge on taxi trips within the charging zone, as well as an increase in street parking charges.

“This is a flawed plan that hurts the people who can least afford it,” said Cornell. “We cannot sit back and allow New York City’s problems to be balanced on the backs of Rockland commuters, particularly when they have no convenient transit options.”