County Executive Criticizes MTA Over $5.1 Billion in Unpaid Tolls & Violations

Statement from Rockland County Executive Ed Day

"Once again, the MTA has chosen to punish hardworking families instead of holding itself accountable for its own financial mismanagement. The MTA already loses an estimated $700 million annually to fare evasion, and now we learn that the agency has racked up over $5.1 billion in unpaid tolls and violations since 2021—$1.4 billion in 2024 alone. Rather than enforcing existing laws and properly managing its budget, the MTA is pushing a punishing congestion pricing scheme to squeeze even more money out of New Yorkers who are already struggling under the weight of skyrocketing inflation.

This is not about reducing congestion—it’s about filling budget holes created by the MTA’s own failures. If the MTA had simply collected what was owed and ensured people actually paid their fair share, they wouldn’t need to dig deeper into the pockets of Rockland County commuters and working families across the region who are just trying to make a living.

New Yorkers are already paying outrageous costs for everything from groceries to gas, and now the MTA wants them to shell out even more just to drive into Manhattan. Enough is enough. The MTA needs to fix its own house before forcing more financial burdens on the people who actually pay their fares and tolls. Rockland County residents deserve better, in fact all New Yorkers do, and I will continue to stand against this unjust congestion pricing plan."

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