Investigation Into MTA's ‘Congestion Pricing’ Called For By NJ Congressman

HACKENSACK, NJ — Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) formally called for a Congressional investigation into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as they move forward with their proposed “congestion pricing plan.”

Gottheimer said that beyond the MTA's proposed congestion fee, which would charge $23 a day to drivers who enter New York City south of 60th Street, the agency has “mismanaged” tax dollars.

MTA's Media Relations department did not respond to a request for comment.

In a letter to the House Committee on Transportation and House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Gottheimer and Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) urged that the committee require testimony from CEO and Chair of the MTA, Janno Lieber, and an investigation of the agency. Gottheimer also announced this action at an event the same day the letter was dated.

His call for a congressional hearing and investigation comes as the MTA moves forward with its congestion pricing plan.

American taxpayers, Gottheimer's office said, "deserve answers, under oath" from the MTA regarding how $15 billion in federal COVID-19 relief was spent, and why the agency is "whacking" commuters with this fee instead of combating its own alleged "mismanagement."

If approved by the Federal Highway Administration, the fee could cost commuters more than $5,000 a year, all of which goes to the MTA.

This fee, Gottheimer's office said, is a "cash grab" for the MTA to make up for a $2.5 billion budget shortfall the agency faces for 2025, which, he said, was caused by "mismanagement, corruption, fraud and violations."

MTA received a record $15 billion in federal pandemic aid, on top of more than $2 billion received annually from the federal government.

“The last thing that a terribly mismanaged government authority needs — one that’s faced indictments for fraud and is riddled with investigations — is more of our money," Gottheimer said. "It’s time we get some answers from the MTA that keeps pouring the dollars we’ve sent them into a black hole."

He added that the congestion fee would "drain families' pocketbooks and hurt small businesses," and "does nothing" to help the environment or ease congestion.