Senate presses NYS DOT Commissioner Dominguez on Port Authority accountability, toll fines and Stewart Airport

Marie Teresa Dominguez, commissioner of the New York State Department of Transportation and Governor Kathy Hochul’s nominee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey board, appeared before the Senate Finance Committee on June 11 and faced sustained questioning about the agency’s transparency, toll-penalty practices and deferred maintenance.

Why it matters: The Port Authority is a bi-state entity that controls airports, bridges, tunnels and port facilities affecting millions of commuters and freight shipments. Senators pressed Dominguez to commit to greater legislative accountability and to address constituent harms from tolling fines and from what lawmakers described as decades of deferred maintenance on city piers.

Dominguez described a 30-year transportation career, including federal roles at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, and said she saw the Port Authority role as dovetailing with her DOT work. “While I am, I serve at the pleasure of the governor, we serve at the pleasure of the people of New York,” she told the committee when asked about her fiduciary duty.

Senators repeatedly asked whether the Port Authority should appear for regular legislative oversight. Dominguez said she needed to “understand exactly what it is and how what the methodology and philosophy is” before committing to a specific oversight schedule, and she agreed to look into the issue and follow up with the committee.

Lawmakers raised specific operational concerns: - Toll fines and account-closure penalties. Senators described constituents hit with escalating fees and “triple fined” toll bills after credit-card expirations or account changes, and urged Dominguez to press the Port Authority for easier dispute resolution and protections for drivers whose livelihoods are at risk. - Deferred maintenance at Brooklyn piers. A senator cited total deferred repair estimates for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal area that add up to roughly $736,000,000, with itemized figures given orally in committee: Pier 7 $395,000,000; Pier 8 $196,000,000; Piers 9A/9B $275,000,000; Pier 10 $70,000,000. Dominguez said she was not yet familiar with the agreement details and committed to “roll up my sleeves and understand it better.” - Stewart Airport and the Healthy Terminals Act. Senators noted Stewart International Airport lacks the same supplement coverage provided at the other Port Authority–owned airports under the Healthy Terminals Act; Dominguez said she would look into whether the omission reflected current Port Authority practice.

Several senators urged Dominguez to use her potential board seat to press airlines and the Port Authority to expand routes at regional airports, including Stewart, and to advocate for a statewide freight strategy that reduces truck dependency.

What was decided: The committee voted to move the full package of nominations to the Senate floor; Dominguez’s nomination advanced but multiple senators recorded “without recommendation” votes or said they remained skeptical of Port Authority responsiveness. Dominguez did not make legally binding commitments on behalf of the Port Authority, but she agreed to investigate the issues raised and report back to the committee.

Next steps: Committee chairs and members said they expect further engagement from Dominguez if she is confirmed, including follow-up on tolling practices, Port Authority audits and the Brooklyn Marine Terminal repairs.