Good morning, Chair Lieber and members of the Board. I am Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this morning.
Under your leadership, the MTA conducted thousands of pages of policy analysis, environmental review, and extensive public outreach. The results were clear: congestion pricing is a win-win-win for our economy, environment, and people. It will clean our air, boost public transit, and make our streets safer. As we continue to suffer through heat waves, air quality warnings, and record-breaking sea surface temperatures, Brooklyn, New York City, and our entire region cannot afford to wait. I urge the MTA to implement congestion pricing on June 30th, as already authorized by this Board by mandate of the New York State Legislature.
Congestion pricing is still the law of the land; the Governor’s video announcement is not. Congestion pricing is first and foremost about public health: cleaner air, less traffic violence, and fewer ambulances stuck in traffic. But the capital plan adjustments being reviewed today make it clear that the Governor’s attempted pause has caused a severe financial crisis as well. As most recently reiterated by State Comptroller DiNapoli, there is no backup plan for this revenue. Congestion pricing and the bonds issued against it are essential to both maintain and expand the MTA.
Chair Lieber, you have been clear-eyed and communicative about this reality: an indefinite pause on congestion pricing means no ADA improvements in Bushwick and Bensonhurst, no signal upgrades on the A and C trains on Fulton, and no new rolling stock for the LIRR. This puts the MTA at risk of deteriorating, failing its legal obligations to make its subway stations accessible, and putting greater burdens on vulnerable transit riders. A quarter of the proposed ADA projects at risk of delay are in Brooklyn.
Finally, one project that is close to my heart as Borough President for all of Brooklyn is the Interborough Express. My Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn identifies this new rail line as essential for health, housing, and jobs: it will connect students to education, health care workers and patients to hospitals, and strengthen our freight rail network to get trucks off the road. While the Governor has stated she still supports the project, the numbers do not add up: suspending congestion pricing will in effect cancel the IBX and betray public trust in the planning process. A pause is not practical. The City’s housing and growth strategy is built around a well functioning transit system.
As fiduciaries of an independent public authority, I urge you to act in the MTA’s best interests. Congestion pricing must go forward, without delay. Thank you.