Congestion Pricing Plan For New York City Will Benefit Straphangers On Both Sides of the Hudson

Trenton – On Wednesday, an advance copy of the New York City MTA advisory body, the Traffic Mobility Review Board, was released, laying out the funding levels of congestion pricing that could take effect for vehicles entering Midtown and Lower Manhattan (below 60^th Street) as early as next May, with congestion pricing charging set at $15 per car or light truck.

In response, Environment New Jersey State Director Doug O’Malley issued the following statement:

“In Midtown Manhattan, the city never sleeps because everyone is stuck in traffic. On the heels of the groundbreaking of the Gateway Tunnel, it’s clear that for a better environment and quality of life, we need to invest more in mass transit throughout the Tri-state region and move away from single-passenger car commuting. Right now, Midtown Manhattan traffic is a market failure.”

“Is the congestion pricing plan perfect? No, and it’s easy to kvetch that the plan is unfair to New Jersey. There should be future efforts to end toll-shopping and to provide funding for NJ Transit to create more equity on both sides of the Hudson.”

“New Jersey commuters vote with their feet and their bus and train tickets. More than 80 percent of them use public transit to get into New York City. An underfunded MTA looking at a fiscal cliff would be a disaster on both sides of the Hudson. The best revenge for New Jersey would be to provide dedicated funding for NJ Transit to allow expansion of transit options into New York City and fund our public transit.”

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