On November 14, 2024, a car passed the toll machine on Broadway Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.
Charlie Triballo | AFP | Getty Images
Just days left until national election First congestion charge Starting with New York City, the pricing plan may have passed its final hurdle in a U.S. District Court ruling, which heard a lawsuit filed by New Jersey on environmental grounds, according to the MTA. But a New Jersey lawyer says it won’t happen that quickly.
While the judge ruled that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) needs to step in, the MTA told NBC New York it has been given the go-ahead to initiate congestion pricing this weekend and said the judge’s challenge to the plan would not rise to the level of an injunction.
New York’s congestion charging law is set to go into effect seconds after midnight on January 5. Under the congestion pricing scheme, cars will pay a $9 peak fee between 5am and 9pm on weekdays and 9am and 9pm on weekends. 75% off during non-peak hours – $2.25.
The New Jersey lawsuit costs tens of millions of dollars and predicts environmental damage if traffic gets worse across the river.
The judge issued his ruling in a 72-page decision Monday night.
MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement: “We are pleased that Judge Gordon agreed with the New York federal court on nearly every issue and rejected New Jersey’s 18-month Most importantly, the decision will not interfere with the plan to be implemented on Sunday, January 5.
In the ruling, the judge said that in light of the issues raised by the federal government, “the matter will be remanded to FHWA until January 17, 2025, to allow FHWA to take action pursuant to this opinion.”
For New Jersey, no matter how the MTA interprets the ruling, this is enough to delay the launch of congestion pricing.
“We welcome today’s court ruling in the congestion pricing lawsuit. Due to the New Jersey lawsuit, the judge has ordered a remand, so the MTA cannot move forward with the current congestion pricing proposal on January 5, 2025,” attorney Randy Maas Randy Mastro, representing New Jersey.
Mastro said New Jersey remains “firmly opposed” to implementing congestion pricing.
In response to New Jersey’s lawsuit, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was willing to provide funding to resolve the matter, but no agreement was reached.
“We have offered multiple settlements that are very generous,” Hochul said previously.
After the ruling, Hochul said the congestion charge would start as planned this weekend.
“Despite New Jersey’s best efforts to try to block New York’s ability to reduce congestion on its streets while making belated investments in public transportation, our position has prevailed in court on nearly every issue. This is a big win for New York State. A huge win for New York and New Jersey commuters,” the New York governor said in a statement.
The MTA predicts that the number of cars and trucks will decrease by 10% once tolls begin.
MTA executives have pledged that the billions of dollars raised through congestion pricing will be used to modernize the system throughout the region.
The New Jersey ruling comes a week after a federal judge in New York dismissed another lawsuit seeking to halt congestion pricing.
In response to a lawsuit filed by the Federation of Teachers, the New York Trucking Association and Manhattan residents, Judge Lewis Liman issued a 111-page ruling in the case denying the request for a temporary injunction.
“Plaintiffs have failed to establish a likelihood of success on the merits of any claim,” the judge wrote in his conclusion.
