OP-ED: Why NY MTA should share 10 percent each of congestion pricing with NJ Transit and PANYNJ

The need to improve public transit is a bistate issue, which does not stop at the New York and New Jersey border. All commuters should be able to benefit from the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) congestion pricing. In 2019, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed legislation and then Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law the MTA Mobility Act, which included language calling for introduction of congestion pricing to fund public transportation upgrades. Since 2019, the party line was it would require a $15 toll for congestion pricing to raise $15 billion. This would help fund the New MTA $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan. It is anticipated to begin on Jan. 5, 2025.   

The base toll has now been reduced from the previous $15 to $9, with significant overnight discounts. The MTA Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) periodically raise bridge and tunnel tolls. It will be the same with MTA congestion pricing before reaching $15 by 2031. 

Previous promises on the part of MTA Chairman Janno Lieber to share some of the $130 million in environmental mitigation funding out of congestion pricing toll revenue for New York with Fort Lee, Bergen County and other New Jersey communities impacted by tolling is a small down payment on what is really needed.   

A better solution is for the MTA to offer both New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) and PANYNJ on behalf of the Port Authority Trans Hudson (PATH) subway a 10 percent share each of future congestion toll pricing revenue. This would still leave the MTA with an 80 percent share. The MTA split between its own operating agencies would include 60 percent for New York City (NYC) Transit subway, Staten Island Railway, bus (Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island); Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority (MABSTOA Bus), MTA Bus, the former NYC Department of Transportation private operators whose municipal franchises, buses and garages were transferred to the MTA between 2005 and 2006. This included Command Bus servicing Brooklyn, Liberty Lines Bronx Express and New York Bus servicing the Bronx along with Green Bus, Jamaica Bus. Queens Surface and Triborough Coach serving Queens and 10 percent each for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. 

Just like the MTA, both NJ Transit and PANYNJ have ongoing five-year and future 20-year long-range capital plans that need funding. Both agencies, including PATH, have various assets that still need funding to bring them up to a state of good repair. This would include, but not limited to, existing bus, commuter van, paratransit, ferry, light rail, commuter rail and subway car fleets, stations, fare collection, elevators, escalators, signals, communications, interlockings, track, power, catenary, tunnel lighting, pumps, yards and shops, as well as ensuring more stations are in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities (ADA) Act, and that maintenance programs are fully funded and completed on time to ensure riders have safe, uninterrupted reliable service at a fair price that commuters can count on.   

Sharing some of the funding could also go toward helping finance the New Jersey share for the $16.8 billion (two new Hudson River & rehabilitation of the existing 110-year-old tunnels damaged by Super Storm Sandy in 2012) Gateway Tunnel, $10 billion PANYNJ 42nd St. Midtown Manhattan Bus Terminal, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's $8 billon Penn Station Vision and long-term $23 billion Penn Station South Gateway Tunnel Phase 2 projects. 

The MTA will face its own challenges in spending billions worth of congestion pricing toll revenues in coming years. There will be $15 billion in congestion pricing funded capital projects, $5 to $10 billion in ongoing capital projects and programs not funded by congestion pricing from the current $51 billion 2020 - 2024 Five Year Capital Plan, whose work will be carried over into the next Five Year Capital Plan, along with new projects and programs under the new MTA $68 billion 2025 - 2029 Five Year Capital Plan.   

It is doubtful the MTA can complete potentially up to $93 billion worth of capital projects and programs within the next upcoming five years. Remember that this does not include billions worth of additional routine maintenance, inspection and safety related projects and programs all while operating 24/7 NYC Transit, Staten Island Railway, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad service all year around.  

The MTA has yet to provide any updated 2025 planned force account (its own track, signal maintainers and other specialized craft employees), track outage, procurement, construction schedules, routine asset maintenance schedules or staffing plans to validate any technical capacity to successfully manage all of the above during the next five years.