Will North Jersey get money to tackle air pollution through NYC congestion pricing plan? (2024)
Will New Jersey will get some money for the potential effects of air pollution from Manhattan's congestion pricing plan?
Janno Lieber, president of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said at a breakfast event Wednesday that "lo and behold, the presentation we made to the feds does call for some allocation of mitigation dollars to New Jersey," reported Crain's New York. "The way that all of this is determined is allocations by the number of people who are in areas impacted by initial truck traffic, and New Jersey will get its share, exactly on the arithmetic."
But the MTA is not confirming whether this is a stronger commitment than previously statements by agency officials and in federal environmental review documents that New Jersey "could" be eligible for some money to mitigate possible increases in pollution in Bergen and Hudson counties.
This lack of commitment was among the biggest contentions raised by lawyers representing New Jersey in oral arguments this month. They pointed out that the MTA and the Federal Highway Administration have committed to spending millions on mitigation efforts in New York, but not in the Garden State.
Questions about how much money New Jersey may be receiving, what it can be used for and whether it's spelled out in documents submitted to the feds were not answered by the MTA or the FHWA, the agency that approved the MTA's environmental analysis and is currently reviewing final submission documents.
June 15 is when the MTA is planning to launch the congestion pricing program that will charge drivers a new $15 peak-hours toll to enter Manhattan below 60th Street, including those who already pay a toll to enter from New Jersey through the Lincoln and Holland tunnels — except vehicles that stay on the highways on the perimeter.
Gov. Phil Murphy sued the FHWA last summer, saying it should have required the MTA to do a more comprehensive review than the 4,000-page document it submitted and that some areas of New Jersey could be harmed by the program. The judge in that case is expected to issue a decision in the coming weeks.
Jen Sciortino, a spokeswoman for Murphy, declined to comment on Lieber's statements.
How congestion pricing will work
Chargesat E-ZPass rates:
$15 will be charged once daily for passenger vehicles and passenger vehicles with commercial license plates that enter the zone during peak hours, between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends.
$3.75 will be charged for passenger vehicles and passenger vehicles with commercial license plates that enter the zone during off-peak hours.
$24 or $36 will be charged for trucks and buses — depending on their size — to enter the zone during peak hours.
$6 or $9 will be charged for trucks and buses depending on their size to enter the zone during off-peak hours.
$7.50 will be charged for motorcycles to enter the zone during peak hours.
$1.75 will be charged for motorcycles to enter the zone during off-peak hours.
$1.25 will be added to each paid passenger trip for trips to, from, within or through the zone using a taxi, green cab or for-hire vehicle.
$2.50 will be added to each paid passenger trip for trips to, from, within or through the zone using a high-volume for-hire vehicle, or app-based service, such as Uber and Lyft.
Vehicles that receive tolls by mail will pay 50% more than the E-ZPass rates.
Credits, discounts and exemptions
School buses contracted with the New York City Department of Education, commuter vans licensed with the city Taxi and Limousine Commission and buses providing scheduled commuter services open to the public, including NJ Transit and fixed routes from private carriers, are exempt from the toll.
Specialized government vehicles will be exempt. This includes those carrying equipment and tools or when the vehicle itself is needed to do the work; it does not include those carrying agency personnel or elected officials.
Certain emergency vehicles and qualifying vehicles transporting people with disabilities will be exempt.
The Lincoln and Holland tunnels' crossing credit during peak hours will be $5 for passenger vehicles; $2.50 for motorcycles; and $12 or $20 for trucks and buses, depending on their size.
The Queens-Midtown and Hugh Carey tunnels' crossing credit during peak hours will be $2.50 for passenger vehicles; $1.25 for motorcycles; and $6 or $10 for trucks and buses, depending on their size.
There is no crossing credit during off-peak hours.
Low-income vehicle owners who register with the MTA's Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority program will receive a 50% discount on the passenger vehicle peak period E-ZPass toll rate on their vehicle's 11th trip and subsequent trips in a calendar month. There are no residency requirements to qualify for the discount.
"The end result is that New Jersey will bear much of the burden of this congestion pricing scheme — in terms of environmental, financial, and human impacts — but receive none of its benefits," New Jersey's attorneys said in court documents.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority officially passed the plan that will charge vehicles entering Manhattan from New Jersey using the Holland and Lincoln tunnels. Rates vary and there are exceptions. The plan includes a $15 toll for regular passenger cars during peak hours weekdays and weekends.
School buses contracted with the NYC Department of Education, commuter vans licensed with the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, and buses providing scheduled commuter services open to the public are exempt from the Congestion Relief Zone toll.
Everyone is talking about the congestion pricing plan that will force drivers to pay $15 every time they enter midtown Manhattan. Although an official start date has yet to be announced, an MTA lawyer recently revealed that officials are likely going to kick things off at the end of June.
NYC may soon begin charging drivers $15 to enter the busiest parts of Manhattan : NPR. NYC may soon begin charging drivers $15 to enter the busiest parts of Manhattan New York City is poised to begin congestion pricing in an effort to ease massive traffic jams in Manhattan.
We are committed to reducing costs and reinvesting all our income to run and improve services. For every pound we receive, around 80% is spent on the everyday running costs of the network and around 20% on renewing and improving it for the future.
You need to pay a daily charge if you drive within the Congestion Charge zone 07:00-18:00 Mon-Fri, 12:00-18:00 Sat-Sun and bank holidays. No charge between Christmas Day and New Year's Day bank holiday (inclusive).
This includes most combustion-engined cars on the road, including hybrids. Only zero-emission cars have been exempt from the Congestion Charge, such as electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, from December 2025, even drivers of zero-emission vehicles will be required to pay the congestion charge.
How does NYC congestion pricing work? The MTA announced last week it plans to start congestion pricing on June 30, charging most drivers $15 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street.
If you hold a valid Blue Badge, you're eligible to register for a 100% discount from the Congestion Charge, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive. If your vehicle has a disabled road fund licence (tax disc) you will receive the 100% discount automatically, with no need to register.
Public-sector employees (teachers, police, firefighters, transit workers, etc.), those who live in the so-called CBD, utility companies, those with medical appointments in the area and those who drive electric vehicles had all been hoping to get be granted an exemption. They did not get one.
You will only have to pay the fee when entering the congestion area but not when exiting, and it's only required a maximum of once per day. So, if you live in Manhattan, you won't have to pay the toll on 60th Street just to drive around the block.
On Friday, the MTA announced that congestion pricing would begin on June 30, charging drivers with E-ZPass a base toll of $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. Those without E-ZPass will be charged $22.50.
In many cities that have implemented congestion pricing, the effect on traffic volume has been dramatic. In Orange County, California, the tactic doubled vehicle throughput while increasing speed in free lanes three- to fourfold.
The MTA board voted overwhelmingly in favor, saying charging drivers to enter a swath of Manhattan would contribute millions of dollars to the aging, cash-strapped transit system. The MTA has said the plan will deliver $15 billion that will help pay for new trains and signals, as well as other fixes.
You can apply for a 90% discount on the Congestion Charge if you qualify as a resident of the charging zone. If you have just moved into the zone and are waiting for your proofs of residency you can start the application process now and then complete it later when your proofs are available.
How do I avoid paying the London Congestion Charge? You can avoid paying the London Congestion Zone Charge by travelling between 18:00 and 7:00 Monday to Friday, and 18:00 to 12:00 Saturday to Sunday (and bank holidays). There is no charge between Christmas Day or New Year's Day, either.
The new toll to enter central Manhattan would be $15 for passenger cars during peak hours, with higher rates for vehicles without an E-ZPass transponder.
Introduction: My name is Gregorio Kreiger, I am a tender, brainy, enthusiastic, combative, agreeable, gentle, gentle person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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