Suffolk Reporter

Rep. Nick LaLota of Suffolk County expressed approval following the termination of New York's Central Business District Tolling Program by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. This decision was attributed to actions taken by President Trump.

"President Trump's decisive action to eliminate Governor Hochul and the New York State Democrats' commuter tax fulfills his commitment to enhancing affordability for my constituents, marking a significant victory for suburban commuters," said Rep. LaLota. He emphasized that this move protects families from an additional $2,000 annual cost associated with commuting, benefiting Long Islanders' cost of living.

LaLota criticized the commuter tax as a strategy to support Governor Hochul’s MTA budget at the expense of Long Island residents and businesses, asserting it unfairly targeted those reliant on vehicles for work. "It's the government's duty to foster policies that bolster—rather than burden—our community's economic well-being," he added.

In January 2025, LaLota introduced a Resolution opposing New York City's Central Business District Tolling Program due to its potential negative economic impact on suburban commuters, particularly from Long Island. The program is part of a broader congestion pricing plan initiated by Governor Hochul on January 5, 2025, which charges vehicles entering Manhattan's Central Business District below 60th Street.

Previously in November 2024, LaLota and other representatives sent a letter to President Trump requesting an end to this congestion pricing plan. The opposition Resolution was initially introduced in the 118th Congress by former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito and cosponsored by several representatives including Thomas Kean, Josh Gottheimer, Jefferson Van Drew, Michael Lawler, Nick LaLota himself, Marcus Molinaro, Nicholas Langworthy, Christopher Smith, Andrew Garbarino, Brandon Williams, and Claudia Tenney.