NYC congestion pricing plan on hold, to the relief of some Jersey drivers

Jersey drivers who worried about paying a “double toll” when commuting in Manhattan have a reprieve. New York City’s congestion pricing plan that could have charged a surcharge for driving south of 61st Street, is on hold for about two years.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials confirmed in a Nov. 24 financial filing that implementation of the plan, intended to provide funding for the city subway system, will be delayed because environmental reviews have been delayed on the federal level. Congestion pricing was supposed to start in 2021.

Final design and construction of congestion pricing toll infrastructure can’t proceed until the Federal Highway Administration issues an environmental finding to allow that work to proceed. With “no assurance when or if FHWA approval will be secured” MTA Bridges and Tunnels’ implementation of congestion pricing could be delayed until 2023, the report said.

A group of congestion pricing supporters, led by the Regional Plan Association, called on President-elect Joe Biden’s Administration to formally designate the Federal Highway Administration as the agency to review the MTA’s application and clarify what’s necessary for the process to move ahead.

New Jersey commuters, specifically those who take the George Washington Bridge to and from Manhattan, were concerned they would be charged a toll for the bridge and a congestion pricing fee for driving south of 61st street. Drivers who use the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels would have their tolls applied to the congestion pricing fee, under a conceptual plan.

But no such provision covers the GWB, which led some Congressmen to threaten a “Jersey Style” fight with New York if New Jersey representatives weren’t included in negotiations about implementing congestion pricing.

In addition to letting commuters apply GWB tolls to offset congestion pricing tolls, the lawmakers said that NJ Transit and PATH should share in some of the revenue, since congestion pricing could drive commuters to those systems. A 2018 congestion pricing report said the funds would solely go to the MTA.

Gov. Phil Murphy also called the current congestion proposal a “double tax” on New Jersey commuters in 2019.

Congestion pricing could generate an estimated $15 billion for the MTA 2020-2024 Capital Plan. Supporters said that would benefit all users of the city subway system, including New Jersey commuters.

Supporters of congestion pricing said the MTA is facing drastic service cuts and a potential slashing of its capital program. Congestion pricing revenue is the single largest source of funding for the MTA’s 2020–2024 capital program.

“Thousands of jobs are at stake, along with transit service New Yorkers depend on,” the supporters said in a statement.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.