NEW YORK — New York’s congestion pricing plan will begin Sunday, Jan. 5, after a judge turned down New Jersey’s last-ditch effort to block the program.
Gothamist reports U.S. Judge Leo Gordon said New Jersey’s request to delay the program was “in a nutshell, denied,” in a Friday evening ruling clarifying a 72-page decision earlier in the week [see “Following court ruling …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 2, 2025 ]. The earlier ruling mostly found for the New York program but said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Federal Highway Administration needed to provide more information on how they will address impacts in New Jersey. That original decision did not explicitly say tolling could begin, leading to New Jersey’s challenge that it should be halted until that information was provided.
An attorney representing New Jersey said the state would appeal.
The start of the tolling program will see most vehicles charged $9 when they enter lower Manhattan from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The money raised, projected to be about $500 million, will fund MTA capital programs.
The long-term future of the tolling program remains in doubt. President-elect Donald Trump said in a social media post last year that he would kill it during his first week in office.
Having been in and out of Manhattan since 1972, much from NJ by bridge and tunnel, and witnessed midtown’s increasing gridlock, good luck on having any effect on it. Also, the tourist traffic around Rock. Center, St. Pats, etc. rivals Times Sq.
NJ had to file this court filing. Voters would have revolted if no attempt however feeble has not been made.
IMO NJ commuters to NY City actually are the problem. If more had taken Amtrak and NJ Transit then congestion would have been less. Now NJ and NY persons will share the pain. At least they will not be banned as happens in some European cities.
It will be interesting to see if any ridership figures increase for NJ Transit and PATH especially to the WTC. Also Hoboken numbers. Amtrak as well although its limited capacity will not allow for much increase.
New Jersey has toll roads. New Jersey isn’t accountable for the impact on other states.
It’s not the business of the courts to undo a lawful toll legaly imposed by the State of New York. Nor is it the business of the incoming Trump administration.