Legal Action Filed to Block Congestion Pricing Toll
With the congestion pricing program set to begin in Manhattan on Sunday, New Jersey is intensifying its efforts to block the tolling plan. On Tuesday night, an attorney for New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy filed a motion to prevent the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from activating the automated toll cameras scheduled to charge drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street. The toll is set to be $9 for passenger vehicles during the daytime and $2.25 during overnight hours. The MTA’s plan, years in the making, is designed to reduce traffic congestion in Manhattan, generate funding for public transit improvements, and cut emissions.
Randy Mastro, an attorney representing Governor Murphy, argued in his court filing that a recent decision by U.S. Senior Judge Leo Gordon had effectively rescinded key federal approvals for the program, putting its implementation on hold. Mastro requested clarification on whether the decision allowed the program to proceed as scheduled. He emphasized that allowing the program to start without the necessary federal review would violate federal law and undermine the court’s decision. The judge is set to hold a hearing on New Jersey’s request on Friday afternoon.
Court Decision Sparks Tension Between New Jersey and New York
The ongoing legal battle between New Jersey and New York has escalated after Judge Gordon’s ruling on Monday. The decision has further strained the relationship between the two states, which are both led by Democratic governors. While New York Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair Janno Lieber have insisted that the judge’s ruling does not prevent the tolling program from moving forward, New Jersey is determined to challenge the implementation. The legal fight is centered on differing views of the congestion pricing plan’s economic impact and its effectiveness in addressing traffic congestion.
Supporters of the plan argue that it is essential for reducing gridlock in Manhattan and improving the city’s transit infrastructure. They believe the tolls will generate billions of dollars to fund MTA projects, benefiting commuters and improving air quality. Opponents, however, warn that the program could create traffic congestion in areas outside the Central Business District, burdening commuters from surrounding regions and potentially harming local communities.
Mitigation Plans and Further Review Requested by Judge
Judge Gordon’s recent ruling also demanded more details on the program’s mitigation plans, specifically how funding will be allocated to address the traffic effects in New Jersey. New Jersey officials have raised concerns that the current plan disproportionately allocates resources to mitigate traffic in the Bronx, leaving areas in New Jersey underfunded.
Under the congestion pricing plan, passenger vehicles will be charged $9 during weekdays between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., and $9 during weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, will face higher toll rates, while motorcycles will be charged a reduced toll of $4.50 during peak hours and $1.05 overnight. The MTA is prepared to move forward with the program unless further legal obstacles arise, though New Jersey’s legal challenge could delay its implementation.
