New Jersey Challenges NYC Congestion Pricing With Federal Lawsuit

NEW YORK CITY — The MTA's congestion pricing plan faces a federal challenge from the other side of the Hudson River, court records show.

New Jersey officials Friday filed suit in Manhattan federal court challenging the city's plan to toll drivers rolling into Manhattan below 60th Street up to $23 a day.

"If the MTA gets its way, trucks will be backed up here in North Jersey, billowing cancer-causing pollution into the lungs of our children," argued U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer.

"I want to thank our Governor for punching back at a state that decided to use Jersey as their piggy bank to solve their years of criminal mismanagement at the MTA.”

Proponents for the plan — who include Gov. Kathy Hochul and President Joe Biden's administration — argue the toll will pump less pollution into the streets of New York City, as well as reduce traffic and raise needed funds for public transportation.

"Congesting pricing is going to happen,” Hochul told reporters Friday. "The state of New York is committed.”

The Federal Highway Administration approved the plan in late June and is slated to go into effect in as soon as May 2024.

In its lawsuit, the Garden State argues the environmental review failed to conduct proper outreach or consider impacts on Jersey citizens that include bad traffic and worse pollution.

In response, the MTA pointed to their 4,000-page environmental assessment, 80,000 comments and submissions and six public hearings that lasted 38 hours.

“This lawsuit is baseless," said MTA Chief External Relations John J. McCarthy. "We’re confident the federal approval — and the entire process — will stand up to scrutiny.”

Congestion pricing is projected to bring the MTA, which recently implemented a fare hike for New York City commuters, about $1 billion a year.

But New Jersey officials say they're going to fight against an estimated $5,000 a year cost to local drivers.

"I’ve been speaking with mayors from North Jersey in my district — and my bet is he can expect even more lawsuits," Gottheimer said. "We just don’t take a punch in Jersey, we punch back.”