Malliotakis Introduces 'Protection Against Double Tolling Act'

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) introduced H.R.3715, the 'Protection Against Double Tolling Act,' legislation that would require the MTA to give individuals who must pay an existing toll to connect to the rest of the city in which they reside, a credit toward any congestion pricing fee should New York City move forward with its planned Congestion Pricing Program.

"Congestion Pricing may have a number of unintended consequences on New York City residents, commuters and working-class Americans, especially during this period of economic recovery," said Congresswoman Malliotakis. "At a time when Americans are experiencing inflation, labor shortages, higher energy costs and costlier consumer goods, the last thing the Mayor and Governor should be doing is implementing more taxation. This legislation would ensure that residents of Staten Island who already pay a toll to connect to the rest of the city will have that amount credited from the congestion fee to prevent them from being double tolled."

In March, the Biden Administration approved the nation's first Congestion Pricing Program in New York City without conducting a detailed economic and environmental review. The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) said the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) can submit a less thorough environmental assessment instead of an environmental impact statement, which would have required a list of alternatives to the planned tolling program. However, Malliotakis is concerned about the impact excess tolling will have on the city's recovering economy at a time when officials want more people entering the city center to stimulate New York City's economy and generate tax revenue.

In May, Malliotakis and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) introduced the Economic Impact of Tolling Act, legislation that would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from implementing Congestion Pricing Programs until an economic impact analysis is completed and made available to the public and policymakers as to the potential impacts and consequences congestion pricing will have on workers, residents, and businesses.

Malliotakis added: "My goal is to slow this program down, or perhaps even stop it altogether. But, if the Congestion Pricing Program does get final approval, at a minimum I want protections in place for the residents of Staten Island to ensure they are not double tolled."

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MALLIOTAKIS' 'PROTECTION AGAINST DOUBLE TOLLING ACT,' CLICKHERE.