Rpld Art 44-C, amd 1630, V & T L; rpld 553 sub 9 (s), sub 12-a, 553-j & 553-k, amd 566-a, Pub Auth L; rpld 87
sub 2 (p), Pub Off L; rpld Part ZZZ Subpart A 9 - 11, Chap 59 of 2019; rpld 606 sub (jjj), Tax L
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4660
SPONSOR: McGowan TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the public authorities
law, in relation to congestion pricing in New York City, and repealing
certain provisions of the vehicle and traffic law, the public authori-
ties law, the public officers law, the tax law, and subpart A of part
ZZZ of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019, amending the vehicle and traffic
law and the public authorities law relating to establishing a central
business district tolling program in the city of New York and amending
the public officers law relating to confidentiality of certain public
records, relating thereto
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Repeals congestion pricing
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section I: Article 44-C of the vehicle and traffic law is REPEALED.
Section III: Subdivision 4 of section 1630 of the vehicle and traffic
law, as amended by section 2 of subpart A of part ZZZ of chapter 59 of
the laws of 2019, is amended: Charging of tolls, taxes, fees, licenses
or permits for the use of the highway or any of its parts (or entry into
or remaining within the central business district established by article
forty-four-C of this chapter), where the imposition is authorized by
law.
Section III: Paragraph (s) of subdivision 9 of section 553 of the public
authorities law is REPEALED.
Section IV. Subdivision 12-a of section 553 of the public authorities
law is REPEALED.
Section V: Section 553-j of the public authorities law is REPEALED.
Section VI: Paragraph (p) of subdivision 2 of section 87 of the public .
officers law is REPEALED.
Section VII: Section 553-k of the public authorities law is REPEALED.
Section VIII: Sections 9, 10, and 11 of subpart A of part ZZZ of chapter
59 of the laws of 2019, amending the vehicle and traffic law and the
public authorities law relating to establishing a central business
district tolling program in the city of New York and amending the public
officers law relating to confidentiality of certain public records, are
REPEALED.
Section IX: Section 566-a of the public authorities law, as amended by
section 12 of subpart A of part ZZZ of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019,
is amended to read as follows: § 566-a. Tax contract by the state is in
all respects for the benefit of the people of the state of New York, for
the improvement of their health, welfare and prosperity, and for the
promotion of their traffic, and are public purposes which consist of
vehicular bridges, vehicular tunnels and approaches thereto (and the
central business district toll- ing program), the project is an essen-
tial part of the public highway system and the authority will be
performing an essential governmental function, and the state of New York
covenants with the purchasers and with all subsequent holders and trans-
ferees of bonds issued after Janu- ary first, nineteen hundred thirty-
nine by the authority pursuant to this title, in consideration of the
acceptance of any payment for the bonds that the bonds of the authority
issued after January first, nine- teen hundred thirty-nine pursuant to
this title and the income, all moneys, funds, tolls and other revenues
pledged to pay or secure the payment of such bonds, shall at all times
be free from taxation except for estate taxes and taxes on transfers by
or in contemplation of death. Nothing herein shall be construed to
repeal or supersede any tax exemptions granted by general or other laws.
Section X: Subsection (jjj) of section 606 of the tax law, as added by
section 1 of subpart F of part ZZZ of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019, is
REPEALED.
Section XI: provides effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
Congestion pricing increases the cost to suburban drivers and commuters
from areas outside of New York City and New York, adding additional
costs to the already skyrocketing cost of living in our state. These
fees would be charged to every vehicle, including law enforcement and
emergency personnel, entering the congestion zone regardless of how many
times in one day they enter the zone. This includes whether they are
going home, to work, to a medical appointment, shopping or dining, etc.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority should not put the burden of
their mismanagement onto the drivers of New York. Furthermore, it is
also unacceptable and improper that the details were delegated to an
unelected commission to decide rather than to those who serve the
public.
In addition, the MTA has provided substandard rail service to the resi-
dents of Rockland County, cutting express train service and threatening
to eliminate rail service altogether, forcing commuters to drive into
New York City, rather than take mass transit. Rockland County residents
are being unfairly penalized by the MTA's failure to provide adequate
rail service. Currently, Rockland County residents pay $50 million more
in revenue to the MTA than services they receive. Its outrageous and
must be remedied.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: A.7750/S.8136
2019-2020: A.8072
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately
