Top House Democrat seeking federal help for MTA, backs congestion pricing pause

The top Democrat in the House of Representatives on Monday said federal officials are "redoubling efforts" to secure funding for MTA infrastructure investments in jeopardy because of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s congestion pricing pause.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), the House Minority Leader, joined Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials in Brooklyn Monday morning to mark the launch of an elevator installation project at the Classon Avenue G train station — one of 13 station accessibility projects costing about $500 million, and being primarily funded through federal dollars.

With the MTA facing a $16.5 billion shortfall in its capital budget caused by Hochul’s decision to pull the plug on congestion pricing, Jeffries said he recently worked to secure an extra $1 million in an appropriations bill that will go toward the station accessibility work.

"We’ve been working hard to make sure that we can secure the resources necessary at the federal government level to make sure we can meet the needs of the community," Jeffries said.

While those 13 specific projects can move ahead, MTA officials have said about two dozen other station accessibility projects are on hold because of the loss of congestion pricing, which would have generated $1 billion annually in toll revenues for MTA infrastructure spending.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber emphasized that the projects being advanced were uniquely eligible for federal funding, including through the $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed in 2021.

"We want to build these projects as fast as we can," Lieber said.

Hochul has said she remains committed to funding MTA capital investments, and is working to find an alternative funding source for them. Last week, she earmarked an additional $54 million in funding to restart work on the MTA’s $7 billion Second Avenue Subway project, which was also shelved because of the congestion pricing collapse.

Jeffries also addressed reports that he was among those urging Hochul to halt congestion pricing, concerned about a potential ballot box backlash against Democratic candidates from voters opposed to the plan, which would have charged most vehicles $15 for driving below 60th Street in Manhattan during peak periods.

Jeffries said he hasn’t taken a position on congestion pricing, instead letting state elected officials "handle it up until this point." But, he said, he does support a temporary pause on the tolling plan, "while at the same period of time redoubling our efforts at the federal level to make sure that we’re securing the resources" for projects like the Classon Avenue effort.

Danny Pearlstein, of the Riders Alliance, a transit advocacy group, said the federal funding deal demonstrates the commitment of MTA and federal leaders to support New York’s transit system and urged Hochul to lift her pause on congestion pricing.

"Accessibility hinges on improvements across the network and congestion pricing is the only way to fund it now at the needed scale."

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.