State Trucking Association Lawsuit: NYC Congestion Pricing Plan Is Unfair

The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) filed a federal lawsuit last week challenging New York City’s plan to charge motorists – including truckers – a fee to travel to New York’s main business district. the city.

The trucking association’s lawsuit calls into question the constitutionality of the congestion pricing plan, which is set to begin June 30. Several other lawsuits have challenged the environmental review process employed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to create what will be a one-of-a-kind project. charges in the United States

The congestion pricing plan calls for trucks to pay between $36 and $24 each time they enter the so-called Congestion Reduction Zone, defined as the part of Manhattan below 60th Street. That compares to $15 a day for private car drivers.

The TANY lawsuit claims the congestion plan violates the Commerce Clause of the Constitution because it creates a financial burden on truckers. The suit also claims the tolling plan also violates the Federal Aviation Authorization Act, which prohibits states from enacting laws affecting motor carrier prices, routes or services.

TANY also said truckers cannot take advantage of the lower prices available for trips between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. because they are often at the mercy of their customers’ schedules. He also suggested that tolls would also increase prices for consumers.

TANY suggests the MTA revise its plan to exempt the industry from these fees, limit truck tolls to once per day or tax them at the same rate as passenger vehicles.

The plan was created to reduce traffic in the busiest part of the city, reduce air pollution and raise $1 billion to repair the city’s ailing transit system. This measure is similar to those already in force in Stockholm, Sweden, and London, England.