Trucking Association sues MTA to delay congestion pricing and formulate ‘equitable and fair policy’

CITYWIDE — CLAIMING THAT TRUCKS ARE UNFAIRLY TARGETED, the Trucking Association of New York has filed a lawsuit aiming to delay the MTA’s scheduled June 30 rollout date of its congestion pricing plan, report the New York Times and other news agencies. The association, which represents more than 550 trucking companies that deliver goods to Manhattan’s businesses, filed the suit a month before congestion pricing takes effect, on the claim that the new toll structure “unfairly targets trucking and logistic companies, which are charged far higher rates than passenger vehicles,” the association said in a release that the New York Times obtained, but that isn’t yet accessible on the association’s website. The congestion plan will have small trucks paying $24 and large trucks paying $36. Both will get an overnight 75% discount, which doesn’t help trucks that must deliver to businesses during their normal hours. The plan also gives a $5 rebate for drivers, including trucks using Holland, Lincoln, Hugh Carey, and Queens Midtown tunnels. The rebate, however, won’t apply overnight. “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,” Kendra Hems, the association’s president, said in a statement. “We hope that we can, through this litigation process, create a more equitable and fair policy that works for New York City.”

The MTA on Thursday declined to comment on the lawsuit. Federal regulators are currently reviewing this plan, reports the Daily News.

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