Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) announced the leadership for a new, bipartisan Congressional Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus to combat New York’s proposed congestion tax. The Co-Chairs of the new bipartisan Congressional Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus will be Gottheimer, Malliotakis, and Mike Lawler (NY-17). 

New York’s congestion tax has been years in the making and, after numerous delays, due in part to stalling by an uncooperative Trump administration, is projected to go into effect at the start of the second quarter of 2024. It will be the first implementation in the nation of a controversial theory to alleviate costly congestion through taxes that manipulate the incentives for motorists. The MTA will charge motorists seeking to enter Manhattan’s Central business district, defined as any area south of 61st Street, a variable rate that will go as high as $23 during peak hours. No revenue from the congestion tax will go to support NJ Transit, PATH, or New Jersey in any way, unlike the shared Port Authority tolls.

Gottheimer and Malliotakis are vocal opponents of making the cost of travel in Manhattan even more prohibitive, particularly for those commuting from outside the city, who will see no benefit from the cash the MTA will amass at their expense. They outlined three priorities and the start of an action plan for the bipartisan Congressional Anti-Congestion Tax Caucus:

  • Environment: Studying the true impact of the congestion tax on the environment, especially in the outer boroughs and suburbs.
  • Economic Impact: Protecting drivers and communities from the economic impact of the congestion tax.
  • Oversight: Conduct oversight of the MTA and audit the billions in federal assistance the MTA has already received.

Gottheimer and Malliotakis also announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation — the Make Transportation Authorities Accountable and Transparent Act — requiring the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct a full audit of the MTA to see how it has spent billions in federal assistance over the past five years.

Gottheimer also called on MTA leadership to testify under oath before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to give Congress a full accounting of the billions of federal dollars they received during COVID and annually.

Gottheimer had some words for the MTA, delivered in his trademark jocular style. “It could be the MTA’s new slogan,” he said, “riding us will give you higher taxes, more congestion, and plumes of smog. Maybe they should put that on their new bumper sticker.”