Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 18
NBCNews: With just days to go before the nation’s first congestion toll begins in New York City, the pricing plan may have passed its final hurdle in a ruling from a U.S. district court who heard a suit from the state of New Jersey on environmental grounds, according to the MTA. But an attorney for the state of New Jersey says not so fast.
New York’s congestion pricing law is set to begin seconds past midnight on Jan. 5th. Under the congestion pricing plan, cars would pay a peak fee of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. Off-peak would be a 75% discount — $2.25.
The judge’s ruling came in a 72-page decision issued Monday evening.
After the ruling, Hochul said congestion pricing will start this weekend as planned.
“Despite the best efforts of the State of New Jersey trying to thwart New York’s ability to reduce congestion on our streets while making long-overdue investments in public transit, our position has prevailed in court on nearly every issue. This is a massive win for commuters in both New York and New Jersey,” the governor of New York said in a statement.
The MTA has predicted there would be 10% fewer cars and trucks after the toll begins. MTA executives have promised that billions of dollars raised by congestion pricing will pay to modernize the system all across the region.
