As congestion pricing takes effect in NYC, New Jersey political leaders consider next steps
CRANFORD, N.J. - After years of delays, congestion pricing is up and running in New York City.
Monday is the first weekday with the charge.
There are mixed reactions, as expected, but there haven't been any major hiccups on the first weekday commute, and drivers are now paying to drive in the Congestion Relief Zone, or Central Business District, of Manhattan. That zone covers everything south of 60th Street. Peak toll hours are 5 a.m.-9 p.m., weekdays.
Passenger cars are charged $9. Trucks, depending on size, pay $14-22, and motorcycles are charged $4.50.
Sources said a federal judge in New Jersey tried to get both sides to reach a settlement before ruling to allow congestion pricing Friday, but that New York's offer wasn't good enough for New Jersey. Attorney tried to appeal the case Saturday, but a third circuit court judge wouldn't hear it.
Gov. Phil Murphy and other political leaders say they aren't giving up on the fight, but also want to find ways to soften the blow to New Jersey commuters. Murphy released a statement saying New Jersey will "continue fighting against this unfair and unpopular scheme."
"The indications so far is positive"
MTA Chair Janno Lieber said it has been a smooth ride Monday on the first weekday of congestion pricing. There was light traffic Monday morning going toward the Lincoln Tunnel, and on the George Washington Bridge.
"It's way too early to declare victory or to draw any permanent conclusions, but the indications so far is positive. Now, it's a snow day. We'll see. But, positive, positive," Lieber said.
Fort Lee's Mayor Mark Sokolich agrees it's too soon to draw any conclusions.
"Today was a very good day from a traffic standpoint but our celebration is a bit guarded. Monday is typically our slowest work weekday for traffic, and we are on the tail-end of holiday schedules," Sokolich said.
Fort Lee was part of New Jersey's failed lawsuit. The borough sits at the tip of the George Washington Bridge. The argument was that congestion pricing will cause more air pollution in the area as drivers jam the bridge to avoid the $9 toll. Attorneys have told CBS News New York's Christine Sloan they are prepared to take it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. President-elect Donald Trump is opposed to congestion pricing, and he picked several of the justices that sit on the court.
Sokolich said attorneys aren't giving up, but he and others are focusing now on mitigation.
"There could be air sensors that could be place where we could monitor what the condition is," Sokolich said.
Mitigation is the next step, N.J. leaders say
New Jersey is getting less than $10 million in mitigation dollars from New York. The Bronx is getting $40 million.
"That's a mere pittance compared to what everybody else is getting and that's really the disappointing part. Why not just treat us all equally and fairly, right?" Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco.
Tedesco is pushing NJ Transit and the state to extend the Hudson light rail into the eastern part of the county, and is hoping Trump supports it.
"I think that the new president, he is somebody that is a pragmatic person and hopefully he will understand the importance of the light rail to the millions of people that will take advantage of it," Tedesco said.
While some New Jersey residents say they'll ditch their cars, others say they might avoid the Big Apple altogether.
"New York City is expensive enough as it is and just adding that on top of it. I mean, like, $9 is $9, but no one wants to see any more price increases for anything, especially in New Jersey where the toll prices have gone up," Kenilworth resident Adam Clark said.