MTA Faces Backlash Over Billions in Unpaid Tolls While Congestion Pricing Looms
The MTA has incurred a staggering $5.1 billion in unpaid tolls over four years, prompting outrage from compliant drivers who face increased congestion fees. Officials are urged to enforce toll collections more effectively.
Outrage mounted in New York City on Monday after the revelation that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) lost $5.1 billion in unpaid tolls and fees over the past four years. Meanwhile, drivers who comply with toll regulations are facing increased charges.
The unpaid collections from MTA's nine bridges and tunnels far exceed the estimated $500 million to $800 million expected to be generated annually from the new $9 congestion toll for entry into Midtown Manhattan south of 60th Street.
Harry Nespoli, chairman of the 300,000-member NYC Municipal Labor Council and head of the sanitation workers' union, expressed his frustration, stating, "They can't even collect their unpaid tolls, so they're going to make it up by socking us with congestion pricing." He called for a focus on collecting debts from toll violators rather than punishing law-abiding citizens.
The MTA's figures revealed that the total of unpaid tolls and late fees reached $5.1 billion from 2021 to 2024. This amount is likely to have surged due to the shift from cash payment systems to cashless collection methods. Officials note that the amount includes not just toll debt but other violations.
In 2024 alone, the authority estimates that more than $1.4 billion in "toll violations" remained uncollected, and the total from 2021 through 2023 is approximately $3.7 billion. The proposal submitted for debt collection suggests that annual unpaid toll collections may exceed $2 billion, especially with the introduction of the congestion toll, which will rise to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031.
Benjamin Li, a smoothie cart operator from Brooklyn, also voiced anger over the situation, insisting that authorities should target toll evaders instead of burdening responsible New Yorkers with additional fees.
Long Island truck driver Kenny McCutcheon shared similar sentiments: "They need to crack down more on people who don't pay the tolls, instead of charging the rest of us so much," he remarked. He described the $9 toll as excessive.
MTA toll crossings include various significant routes such as the Hugh Carey/Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The standard toll is $11.19 without E-ZPass, while E-ZPass users pay $6.94.
A federal bankruptcy judge emphasized that the problem extends beyond occasional missed payments, asserting that the system is being deliberately abused by some drivers.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman highlighted the broader implications, citing a culture of lawlessness and poor leadership as key contributors to the ongoing toll evasion issue.
In response, MTA officials downplayed the alarming figures and called the reporting "misleading," while acknowledging the challenges posed by "ghost plates" that hinder identification of violators. They reported collecting less than half of the outstanding tolls for 2023 and have sought to revoke registrations for frequent offenders.
Transit officials have also been granted authority to impose penalties on toll non-payers without requiring court intervention.
