Judge rules NYC congestion pricing may begin as scheduled January 5
Judge rules to allow congestion pricing
A federal judge has denied New Jersey’s request to delay NYC’s $9 congestion pricing toll, allowing it to begin as scheduled on Sunday. The controversial toll applies to drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street during peak hours. NJ leaders argue the MTA’s environmental studies were insufficient and plan to appeal the ruling.
NEW YORK - A federal judge in Newark has denied New Jersey’s request to pause the implementation of New York City’s controversial congestion pricing plan, which will begin as scheduled on January 5.
New Jersey leaders, who filed the lawsuit against the MTA, argued that the agency's environmental studies were inadequate and sought to delay the plan’s rollout.
Judge Leo Gordon had previously said that regulators needed to specify how much money communities in New Jersey would get to mitigate potential pollution effects from congestion pricing, but had not said whether the tolls could go into effect. In his ruling Friday, Judge Gordon ruled that there was no basis to halt the toll.
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Attorney for the State of New Jersey Randy Mastro said that he plans to file an appeal to stop the start of congestion pricing.
MTA Chair Janno Lieber welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the potential benefits of congestion pricing.
"We've been studying this issue for five years, but it only takes about five minutes if you're in midtown Manhattan to see that New York has a real traffic problem," said MTA CEO Janno Lieber after the decision. "I recognize there's been a lot of controversy about this program and there are a lot of people who are concerned about the impact of congestion pricing. To them, I want to say the point is to make the city better for everybody."
Congestion pricing is expected to generate billions in revenue to modernize New York’s transit infrastructure. Still, the plan has faced fierce opposition from New Jersey officials and commuters, who argue it unfairly burdens out-of-state drivers. Including existing tolls for Port Authority crossings, some commuters could face daily charges of up to $22.
Adding to the uncertainty, President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to block the plan once he takes office.