With simply days to go earlier than the nation’s first congestion toll begins in New York City, the pricing plan might have handed its last hurdle in a ruling from a U.S. district courtroom who heard a go well with from the state of New Jersey on environmental grounds, in response to the MTA. But an lawyer for the state of New Jersey says not so quick.
While the choose dominated the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) might want to weigh in, the MTA tells NBC New York it has the inexperienced mild to proceed with the beginning of congestion pricing this weekend saying the choose’s questions with the plan don’t rise to the extent of an injunction.
New York’s congestion pricing regulation is ready to start seconds previous midnight on Jan. fifth. Under the congestion pricing plan, vehicles would pay a peak price of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Off-peak could be a 75% low cost — $2.25.
The lawsuit from New Jersey was for tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, predicting environmental hurt if visitors will get worse on the opposite aspect of the river.
The choose’s ruling got here in a 72-page choice issued Monday night.
“We’re gratified that on nearly each difficulty, Judge Gordon agreed with the New York federal courtroom and rejected New Jersey’s declare that the Environmental Assessment accepted 18 months in the past was poor,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber stated in a press release. Most vital, the choice doesn’t intrude with this system’s scheduled implementation this coming Sunday, January 5.”
In the choice, the choose stated due to the questions for the federal authorities, “this matter is remanded to the FHWA till January 17, 2025 for the FHWA to take actions in conformity with this Opinion.”
For the state of New Jersey, that’s sufficient to carry off on beginning congestion pricing, regardless of how the MTA is studying the ruling.
“We welcome the courtroom’s ruling right now within the congestion pricing lawsuit. Because of New Jersey’s litigation, the choose has ordered a remand, and the MTA due to this fact can’t proceed with implementing the present congestion pricing proposal on January 5, 2025,” stated lawyer Randy Mastro, who represents New Jersey.
Mastro stated New Jersey stays “firmly opposed” to implementation of congestion pricing.
In response to New Jersey’s lawsuit, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has stated she provided cash to settle it — however no deal was reached.
“We’ve made a number of affords to settle this lawsuit, very beneficiant affords,” Hochul stated beforehand.
After the ruling, Hochul stated congestion pricing will begin this weekend as deliberate.
“Despite the very best efforts of the State of New Jersey making an attempt to thwart New York’s capability to cut back congestion on our streets whereas making long-overdue investments in public transit, our place has prevailed in courtroom on almost each difficulty. This is an enormous win for commuters in each New York and New Jersey,” the governor of New York stated in a press release.
The MTA has predicted there could be 10% fewer vehicles and vans after the toll begins.
MTA executives have promised that billions of {dollars} raised by congestion pricing can pay to modernize the system all throughout the area.
Per week earlier than the New Jersey ruling, a federal choose in New York denied a special go well with making an attempt to pause the beginning of congestion pricing.
Responding to a lawsuit from the United Federation of Teachers, the Trucking Association of New York and Manhattan residents, Judge Lewis Liman issued a 111-page ruling in that case denying a request for a brief injunction.
“Plaintiffs fail to ascertain a probability of success on the deserves for any declare,” the choose wrote in his conclusion.