The ongoing dispute over the proposed $15 congestion pricing toll between the Garden State and federal authorities is set to reach the courtrooms. New Jersey is fighting to prevent the implementation of the toll, which it believes targets its residents unfairly.
Legal representatives from New Jersey are set to face off against attorneys from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the MTA. The bone of contention is whether a comprehensive review was conducted to evaluate the toll’s impact on New Jersey drivers.
“The congestion pricing toll could have a significant impact on New Jersey residents. We need to ensure all necessary studies have been conducted before implementation,” a representative from New Jersey stated.
If federal authorities succeed in their bid to dismiss the lawsuit, the controversial fee inches closer to becoming a reality. This is despite the existence of other ongoing lawsuits against the proposed toll.
“The congestion pricing toll is a contentious issue, and we are committed to ensuring that all legal avenues are explored before it is implemented,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
According to a Politico report, there are four other lawsuits in New Jersey and New York courts aimed at blocking the congestion pricing toll.
Last week, the MTA board voted in favor of charging drivers $15 to enter Midtown Manhattan below 60th Street. Trucks are set to face even higher tolls.
Advocates for the congestion pricing toll argue that it will lessen pollution and peak-day traffic. They believe the generated revenue — potentially in the billions — can be funneled into improving public transit.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy filed a lawsuit in July against the federal authorities. He claimed the proposed toll unfairly targeted residents of his state.
Federal Judge Leo Gordon will preside over this week’s hearings. The focal point will be the Federal Highway Administration’s alleged approval of the MTA’s assertion that the toll would have “no significant impact on the human or natural environment.”
New Jersey is asking Judge Gordon to rule that the Federal Highway Administration should not have approved the MTA’s report. They argue that the entire plan needs further review.
Judge Gordon is expected to reach a decision before June when the toll is set to come into effect.
Like the New Jersey case, many of the other suits also argue that the review conducted to study the environmental effects of the proposed toll was insufficient.
In January, a teachers union and the Staten Island borough president joined forces in a similar lawsuit. They argue that city workers will bear the brunt of the new tolls disproportionately.
Other suits allege that the plan would exacerbate pollution by creating new traffic patterns. These patterns could cause traffic bottlenecks in certain areas of Manhattan.