Mr. President,
On behalf of our coalition of advocates, we would like to extend our gratitude to both the Administration and the Department of Transportation for the continued support of the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City. This policy will help revitalize one of the nation’s most densely populated and transit-dependent cities, alleviating air pollution and providing the funds for critically needed repairs and improvements to the region’s public transportation systems.
After having been passed into law in 2019 by the New York State Legislature, congestion pricing was set to move forward for federal approval prior to the policy’s scheduled implementation in January of 2021. For nearly two years, the Trump administration blocked the project by stalling any decision regarding the necessary environmental review process. Now, over a year after the policy was originally set to be implemented, the delays have become untenable for New Yorkers.
Thanks to clear direction by the Administration and the Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration announced that congestion pricing would move forward under an Environmental Assessment beginning on September 7, 2021. This announcement was a step forward in our effort to generate billions of dollars in funding to make critical improvements to New York City’s subway, bus and commuter rail system and to eliminate hundreds of thousands of metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from our atmosphere. Through congestion pricing, New York City will have better public transportation, less congested roads and cleaner air. Now, we strongly urge the administration to complete the environmental review and approve the project on an expedited timeline.
As a coalition of transportation and environmental advocates, we support the process of Environmental Assessment and we welcome the evaluation of any policy’s potential impact on the environment, especially as we face a growing global environmental crisis. However, it is imperative that the Environmental Assessment of New York City’s congestion pricing program be completed efficiently and without delay.
This past year has arguably been the toughest for public transit across the nation. Pre- pandemic, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) public transit systems were already underfunded, way too dependent on farebox collections and desperately in need of additional funding to maintain state of good repair. Millions of riders staying home because of the global pandemic has cost the MTA even more much-needed ridership revenue, exacerbating issues that were already dire. Given this challenging financial picture, the MTA’s ability to fund its capital plan is in doubt, meaning the $15 billion in capital funding that can be raised through congestion pricing revenue is now essential.
With the circumstances at hand, we ask not only for your continued support of our mission, but also that the Environmental Assessment of New York City’s congestion pricing program be carried out in the quickest and most efficient manner possible. We cannot afford to delay the implementation of this critical policy any longer, and the time is now to deliver for New Yorkers, for our environment, and for our nation’s transportation systems.
Thank You,
American Institute of Architects NY
Environmental Advocates NY
Environmental Defense Fund
Families for Safe Streets
Hudson Square BID
Lyft
Make Queens Safer
Move NY
Municipal Arts Society
The Nature Conservancy
Natural Resources Defense Counsel
New York City Environmental Justice
Alliance
New York Lawyers for Public Interest
New York League of Conservation Voters
Open Plans
Real Estate Board of New York
Regional Plan Association
Reinvent Albany
Riders Alliance
Right of Way NYC
Right Track for Long Island
Rise and Resist Elevator Action Group
RXR Realty
Sam Schwartz Engineering
StreetsPAC
Trust for Public Land
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Transportation Alternatives
Two Trees
Uber
