New Jersey lawmakers warn MTA's plan for congestion pricing will put burden on their districts
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- New Jersey lawmakers spoke out Tuesday against New York City's plan for congestion pricing, saying the Federal Highway Administration approved the "Cliff Notes" version.
"We're gonna keep fighting the cash-grabbing MTA," Rep. Josh Gottheimer said.
Positioned beside the backlogged Holland Tunnel, Gottheimer and Rep. Rob Menendez took aim at the MTA's controversial congestion pricing plan.
"They're not looking for real solutions to their challenge," said Menendez. "They're looking to fund an underfunded MTA."
It aims to reduce congestion and pay for mass transit upgrades by charging cars and trucks entering the Manhattan's Central Business District below 60th Street as much as $23.
"I wouldn't be able to drive if they would charge me for that," Newark resident Stephanie Abe said.
"I think it's ridiculous," Jersey City resident Jose Alvarado said.
"It's just not a good thing overall for a lot of people ... It's gonna cause a lot of traffic here in the Holland Tunnel," said Bruno George, owner of Signs of the Times.
It's going to cause more traffic at all three Hudson River crossings to the city, according to the MTA's own assessment, says Menendez.
"There's no corresponding piece to alleviate congestion here in New Jersey and in our communities," Menendez said.
"The MTA acknowledges in their report to the federal government that if their congestion tax program goes into effect, there will be more cars diverted here at the tunnel and trucks to northern New Jersey ... The MTA said the Bronx alone could face 700 more trucks every day and countless more trucks by Fort Lee in northern New Jersey," Gottheimer said.
The MTA's assessment shows air quality in the Central Business District would improve but not in the Garden State, says Gottheimer.
"According to the MTA's report, there will be increases in particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide in Bergen County," Gottheimer said.
A graphic pulled from the assessment shows with congestion pricing in place, carbon monoxide would increase in Bergen County by about .5%, but on the flip side, it would decrease in Hudson County by more than 1%.
Gottheimer wants to know more and plans to plead his case to the FHA during the 30-day comment period.
"They should ask the MTA for a full environmental impact study," he said.
He claims it's not a stall tactic.
In response, MTA Chief, External Relations, John J. McCarthy shared:
"We are grateful to the Federal Highway Administration for approving the release of the final EA and a draft finding of no significant impact. This is a generational opportunity to make it easier to get in and around Manhattan's Central Business District, and it's good for the environment."
The plan recently got the green light from the Federal Highway Administration to move forward with the next phase of the approval process.
It's expected to go into effect next year.