New Jersey Tries To Sue NYC For Congestion Scanner Installation
The implementation of congestion fees in New York is underway, with toll readers being installed on the West side of Manhattan. The new cashless system is expected to charge commuters between $9 and $23 to enter the city starting in May.
However, the plan has faced opposition from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who recently filed a lawsuit against the federal government to block the installations. He argued that the traditional review process was circumvented, and the tolls could lead commuters to seek alternative routes, resulting in increased traffic and pollution.
The MTA Chairman, Janno Lieber, asserted that the agency obtained federal environmental approval and has begun installing the toll readers, as well as developing the necessary software and back-office system to handle toll information and billing.
Governor Murphy criticized New York for “toll shopping” and expressed concerns about the lack of a thorough environmental review and mitigation measures for affected communities. He referred to the tolls as “anti-environmental, anti-commuter, and anti-business.”
The New Jersey Transit trains currently run between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m., leaving overnight commuters with limited options besides driving into New York City in the early morning hours. John Samuelsen, International President of the Transport Workers Union and a board member, supports the congestion pricing plan but emphasizes the need to expand the express bus system, provide accommodations for overnight commuters, and assist low-income drivers.
Samuelsen also highlighted that the toll revenue would go to the Capital budget, which can be used for infrastructure improvement and purchasing new trains and buses but cannot increase operational capacity. He believes a fair and equitable approach is necessary to sustain the investment in encouraging drivers to opt for public transportation and that additional funding for the operation budget is essential to improve ridership.
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