metro
The head of the Transportation Workers Union accused MTA boss Jano Lieber of treating the city’s congestion pricing system as a “flimsy” cash cow for the agency.
John Samuelsen, president of TWU International and a member of the Transportation Mobility Review Board, which is charged with setting congestion charges and exemptions, said the MTA president is focusing on revenue generation rather than improving air quality or reducing traffic. He criticized the government for putting “emphasis on it”.
“It is very reasonable to conclude that Mr. Llano is focused on the revenue-generating aspects of the new toll system and is not interested in reducing congestion,” Samuelsen told the Post.
“He hasn’t taken any logical steps to encourage people who are currently driving to work in the best possible way . . . to use public transport as a means of commuting.”
The controversial toll system, which imposes fines of up to $23 on drivers who enter Manhattan’s 60th Street or below, was given the green light by the Biden administration in June. starts in may.
Samuelsen questioned why the MTA doesn’t expand subway and bus service to attract new riders, in tandem with introducing congestion pricing, which disgusts Lieber. Reasoning from recent MTA board meetings Passenger numbers have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and current service levels may allow for more customers to be absorbed.
![Mr. Samuelsen complained that the MTA was not making a legitimate effort to encourage drivers who could afford to pay to ditch their cars and take public transit.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000023116636.jpg?w=1024)
![Mr. Samuelsen complained that the MTA was not making a legitimate effort to encourage drivers who could afford to pay to ditch their cars and take public transit.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000023116636.jpg?w=1024)
“If you want to get people out of their cars and back on transit, you can’t do it by saying people should come because there’s space in the system,” he said. “It’s ridiculous and thinly veiled.”
The TWU representative’s criticism echoes that of many suburban boroughs who worry that their streets will become clogged with motorists looking to avoid expensive congestion pricing while filling the MTA’s coffers. There is.
“If we want more New Yorkers to ride public transit, we need to make it safer, hire more police, and impose penalties on turnstile jumping that are fair to everyone.” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Brooklyn, Sicily).
![Lieber said ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels and could absorb new customers generated by the fare collection system.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000020833593.jpg?w=1024)
![Lieber said ridership remains below pre-pandemic levels and could absorb new customers generated by the fare collection system.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000020833593.jpg?w=1024)
“Stop treating commuters like a bottomless ATM to fund MTA incompetence.”
Richard Davey, president of the New York City Transit Authority, dismissed Samuelsen’s criticism as “overreach.”
He said: “Passenger numbers are down by 2 million flights per day, but the system is still 10 times more efficient than the 72,300 to 110,000 people per day who are expected to switch to transit after congestion pricing.” It can easily handle a large number of passengers.”
An MTA spokesperson said revenue generation is a key component of the congestion pricing plan, adding that state law requires it to generate $15 billion to fund the agency’s $52 billion capital plan. Ta.
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