On Thursday, May 30th, the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over its new congestion pricing plan for Manhattan. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, challenges the plan, which imposes a $15 daily toll on passenger vehicles and significantly higher charges of $24 to $36 per trip for trucks entering Manhattan below 60th Street.
The MTA’s congestion pricing toll aims to reduce traffic during peak business hours and generate at least $1 billion annually. However, TANY argues that the policy unfairly targets the trucking and logistics industries, which are essential for the city’s supply chain.
TANY’s lawsuit claims that the MTA’s congestion pricing toll violates the United States Constitution, specifically the Commerce Clause.
Kendra Hems, President of TANY, criticized the MTA for ignoring industry experts’ warnings about the adverse effects on costs and operations. “This lawsuit was a step we took only out of necessity after the MTA repeatedly refused to make any concessions to our industry and ultimately used our essential, hard-working members as a tool to meet their arbitrary funding requirements,” Hems stated. She hopes the litigation will result in a more equitable policy.
The trucking industry, responsible for moving nearly 90% of goods in New York City’s five boroughs, argues that the MTA’s plan exploits the inelastic demand for trucking services. A 2017 MTA study indicated that reducing commercial vehicle tolls during off-peak hours had no significant impact on traffic patterns, reinforcing the argument that trucks operate on necessity rather than convenience.
Joe Fitzpatrick, founder of Lightning Express Delivery Service and vice chair of TANY’s Board of Directors, highlighted the impracticality of alternative transportation methods for heavy freight. “After all, they can’t move heavy freight via the subway or Metro North,” Fitzpatrick said. He emphasized that while less traffic could benefit truck drivers, the congestion pricing will inevitably increase costs for New Yorkers.
A spokesperson for the MTA declined to comment on the lawsuit. The agency remains committed to implementing the congestion pricing framework, despite the ongoing legal challenges from various groups, including truckers.
