Rockland County officials are celebrating President Trump’s decision to halt the controversial Congestion Pricing plan, a move they say reflects the overwhelming opposition from local leaders and residents.
County Executive Ed Day issued a strong statement lauding the decision, crediting persistent advocacy from his administration, Congressman Mike Lawler, and other elected officials for helping to derail what he called an “unjust tax.”
“Our relentless efforts in exposing the sheer absurdity of this plan helped drive the decision to put an end to this unjust tax,” Day said.
Day also highlighted long-standing concerns about Rockland County’s financial contributions to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), noting that a decade-old analysis revealed a $40 million annual “value gap” between what the county pays into the MTA and the services it receives in return. Despite years of advocacy, he said, Rockland still lacks major transit investments or a one-seat ride into Manhattan, forcing residents to rely on driving.
“Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA should not be punishing hardworking families who are simply trying to make a living,” Day added. “Instead, they must first invest in the necessary transit infrastructure to make public transportation a viable option.”
The County Executive further criticized the MTA, arguing that the President’s decision proves the plan was never about reducing traffic congestion but rather about covering the agency’s budget shortfalls.
With congestion pricing off the table, Day is now calling for a full audit of the MTA’s finances and demanding the immediate resignation of MTA Chair Janno Lieber, stating that “accountability is long overdue.”
Rockland officials say they will continue to push for fair treatment in transit funding and ensure that local taxpayers are not burdened with what they view as an inequitable system.