Trump’s Fight Against Congestion Tolls: What It Means for Staten Island Bus Riders and Traffic Woes

U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, from Staten Island, is taking a strong stand against congestion pricing in New York City. She argues that the toll is unfair to her constituents and recently thanked President Trump for his efforts to halt the program. However, the future of this decision rests with a federal judge.

Recently, I took a ride on the SIM32 express bus from Staten Island to Manhattan and chatted with some passengers about how their views on the tolls have changed. Lynne Rapino, who commutes daily, was initially against the tolls but now believes they have made her ride much quicker. “The traffic has lessened, and the commute is much better,” she said. Her husband, who works in Midtown, also enjoys significant time savings thanks to the quicker bus rides.

More than 23,000 Staten Islanders travel to Manhattan below 60th Street every day using ferries or buses. In comparison, around 6,700 people drive into the congested area, where a $9 toll now applies to cars. Anna Gorny, a fellow SIM32 bus rider, shared her surprise at how much the congestion pricing has helped. “Our bus was nine minutes early,” she remarked, although she thinks more time is needed to understand the long-term effects.

Interestingly, the positive changes for commuters don’t align with the views of many local officials. Malliotakis and other politicians, like outgoing Councilmember Joe Borelli, have strongly opposed the tolls. There’s also been legal action to block congestion pricing, but those efforts have not succeeded.

While some leaders criticize the tolls, the MTA claims they are working well to reduce traffic and bus delays. In fact, officials are even considering increasing bus services because of the improvements. However, Malliotakis continues to maintain that her constituents are suffering because of these fees. “President Trump understands the toll’s negative impact on our local economy,” she has stated.

Residents are curious about various transit issues, such as why there isn’t a ferry landing at Coney Island. According to the NYC Economic Development Corporation, they had plans to build a ferry dock but faced challenges like safety concerns and high costs. A landing at Coney Island would require five times the investment compared to other locations.

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