D’Esposito fights congestion plan

A bipartisan resolution introduced in the House of Representatives last month opposes the controversial New York City congestion pricing plan.

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito introduced H.Res. 609, a bipartisan resolution opposing the newly approved Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City. New York City’s congestion pricing plan received approval from the Federal Highway Administration in June 2023 and is expected to go into effect in April 2024.

The approved plan will charge commuters up to $23 just to enter New York City below 60th Street.

This resolution was originally co-sponsored by Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Thomas Kean Jr. of New Jersey.

“The new Congestion Pricing plan is an assault on the hard-working Americans commuting into New York City every day,” D’Esposito said in a release. “Commuters should not be forced to bail out the MTA for countless years of mismanagement and fiscal irresponsi- bility. Congestion pricing is a slap in the face to my constituents, who already must navigate record high inflation, increasing property taxes, and MTA fare hikes.”

The resolution expresses Congressional disapproval of the Central Business District Tolling Program of New York City. Specifically, it acknowledges the severe economic burden the proposed Central Business District Tolling Program would pose on small businesses and strongly recommends the state conduct and make publicly available an economic impact report on the program.

Lastly, this resolution strongly recommends that relevant federal agencies and New York halt the implementation of the Central Business District Tolling Program.

“At a time when we should be doing everything we can to make life more affordable for hard-working families, New York’s and the MTA’s Congestion Tax will whack middleclass Jersey and New York drivers,” said Congressman Gottheimer in a release.