Testifying to MTA Board, Comptroller Lander Denounces Governor’s Decision to Pause Congestion Pricing

New York, NY — In a direct appeal to the MTA Board today, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander continued to press his case against the Governor’s last-minute about-face on congestion pricing. Lander’s testimony comes as the Board considers a Resolution to affirm its readiness to implement the policy.   

“Congestion pricing revenues are necessary for station accessibility, signal modernization, on-time service, for the Second Avenue subway, and for the Inter Borough Express. If it doesn’t go into effect, the MTA cost of borrowing will go up, operating expenses will increase, and indeed service reliability, safety, and frequency will all be jeopardized,” Comptroller Lander said. “When straphangers, people with disabilities, New Yorkers who rely on mass transit, both comptrollers and the late Dick Ravitch agree, the path is clear. Go ahead and pass this resolution and do everything you can to take congestion pricing off pause to make clear to the Governor and the State Transportation Commissioner that these steps to implement it are legally required so that we can move New York forward.” 

Following is a transcript of Lander’s complete remarks as delivered:  

“Good morning. Thank you very much for making it possible for everyone to get in. To the Chair, to all the board members: we appreciate you in recent days. Video of Dick Ravitch standing before this board has been circulating online, reminding the board in a serious way of its fiduciary duty, and that politically expedient reductions of tolling that prevent the MTA from meeting its capital obligations and its service obligations aren’t consistent with that duty. It’s powerful testimony. I’m guessing some of you have watched it.  

I want to thank the MTA board for rising to those words from Dick Ravitch for taking fiduciary duty seriously, despite political pressure and making clear, as the federal government did last week, that the MTA board stands ready to implement congestion pricing as legally required.  

And perhaps even more significant is the resolution that you’re considering today: making clear that the 2019 law implementing Central Business District tolling program remains in effect and is legally required. That recognition is at the heart of the legal action that a coalition that we’ve developed with environmental legal expert Michael Gerrard is considering. The 2019 law does remain in effect. The steps required by the Governor and the State Transportation Commissioner are legally required. You’re correct in that assessment in your resolution, and correct on the law.  

In addition, you may have seen State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli put out an analysis making clear that the congestion pricing revenues are not only necessary for station accessibility, for signal modernization, for on time service for the Second Avenue subway, and for the Inter Borough Express — but that if it doesn’t go into effect, the MTA cost of borrowing will go up, operating expenses will increase, and indeed service reliability, safety, and frequency will all be jeopardized. So, I would just say when straphangers, when people with disabilities, when New Yorkers who rely on mass transit, when both comptrollers and Dick Ravitch agree, the path is clear. Go ahead and pass this resolution and do everything you can to take congestion pricing off pause to make clear to the Governor and the State Transportation Commissioner that these steps to implement it are legally required so that we can move New York forward. Thank you very much for your consideration of this resolution.” 

Click here to view Lander’s testimony to the MTA Board today. 

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