New tolls could be on the horizon for New Jersey drivers as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority moves toward a congestion pricing program that would charge drivers to enter downtown Manhattan.
The MTA released an in-depth study Wednesday of what the traffic, pollution and toll outcomes could be under seven different scenarios with different credit options for tolls already paid at crossings and exemptions for certain types of vehicles, such as buses The study also looked at what would happen if the agency does not move forward with congestion pricing.
New tolls to enter Manhattan’s Central Business District (CBD), the area below 60th Street, could range from $9 to $23 during peak hours, $7 to $17 during off-peak hours or $5 and $12 overnight, depending on the models used. by the authors of the report to study the toll program. These potential tolls are in addition to tolls paid at other crossings used to reach downtown Manhattan, such as the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel and the George Washington Bridge, whose tolls currently range from 11.75 to 16 dollars for cars.
In three of the seven scenarios, drivers coming from New Jersey via the Lincoln and Holland tunnels, which enter the CBD directly, will receive a credit for tolls already paid to use that crossing. In one of the scenarios studied, these two tunnels and drivers who cross the Hudson River via the George Washington Bridge will receive a credit.
But none of the scenarios laid out in the report would fully credit drivers using Hudson River crossings for tolls paid before reaching the CBD. There are “high” scenarios where most of the prepaid tolls would be credited, there are “low” scenarios where some of the prepaid tolls are credited, and there are scenarios where no credit is given.
“When crossover credits are applied, what the crossover credits do is they help break even in terms of parity,” said a senior MTA official. “It also changes the balance of where traffic comes from and who is more or less affected in terms of traffic reductions.”
While the report does not favor any scenario, the authors predict that all congestion pricing scenarios would lead to reductions in traffic and an increase in the number of riders taking transit to reach downtown Manhattan, which are the ultimate goals of the program. along with raising $1 billion annually for the MTA. capital fund to improve metro and buses.
“The assessment found that 85% of existing work trips in the central business district are by transit, 5% by car from New York City, 3% by car from New York’s suburban counties , 3% by car from New Jersey, 0.2% by car from Connecticut, and 4% by other modes, including taxis, rental vehicles, bicycling and walking,” according to a news release from the MTA “With the start of the program, the number of vehicles entering the CBD would decrease by between 15.4% and 19.9%, depending on the tolling scenario.”
Congestion pricing programs like this have been successful in places like London, Stockholm and Singapore in reducing traffic, increasing public transport, raising incomes and improving air quality.
But nothing is set in stone.
The Federal Highway Administration is expected to issue a decision on the environmental review in January 2023. If the agency determines that no significant impacts are expected, the Toll Mobility Review Board will have 310 days to issue a report with recommendations and details on how toll. The structure should work, which crossings should receive credits and how the exemptions would work. In this period of time, the necessary infrastructure to process the tolls will also have to be put in place.
Five of six toll board appointments were announced earlier this month, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams has yet to announce a sixth. During public hearings last year, calls were made to give New Jersey more information about the plan. New Jersey is not represented on the board, but residents have been included in some public outreach activities.
Gov. Phil Murphy made it clear last week that he would not support a congestion pricing toll program that does not give New Jersey drivers credit at the three Hudson River crossings.
“We love it conceptually,” Murphy said of congestion pricing, but, he added, “There’s no way, no way it’s going to happen with a double tax on New Jersey commuters. Period.”
Asked in a follow-up question what he would do about it, he said: “I’m optimistic, I think we’ll eventually come to a good resolution, but it’s not going to happen if that’s the case.”
At a campaign event last September, Murphy told voters he has “methods” to use against New York “that we will use if we have to, and I hope we don’t have to, including vetoing the acts of the Port Authority, which is kind of the nuclear option, but if we have to, we will,” according to a Politico report.
Around the same time, emails obtained exclusively by NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY Network New Jersey revealed that New Jersey officials mentioned congestion pricing and credited the George Washington Bridge as a bargaining chip to give in New York more money than distributed by Federal Transit. Administration formulas. Ultimately, New Jersey handed over nearly $850 million to New York, but it’s unclear whether the Garden State received anything in return. Murphy’s office has not said whether congestion pricing agreements were part of that deal.
Govts. Murphy and Kathy Hochul of New York have spent months making sure residents of the two states get along, but this could disrupt that harmony. It also comes at a time when the two states are trying to reach agreements on how they will finance and split the costs associated with the first phase of the Gateway program, a $14.6 billion slate of projects to replace the Portal North Bridge. build new train tunnels at New York Penn Station and repair the old ones.
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer has been one of the most outspoken opponents of congestion pricing, saying it would place an unfair additional financial burden on New Jersey residents. On Tuesday, he introduced, along with state Sen. Joe Lagana, D-Paramus, Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, D-Fair Lawn, and Assemblyman Chris Tully, D-Bergenfield, a newly proposed package of incentives to entice more businesses to open offices in New Jersey so residents will not have to travel to New York City.
“Just read MTA spelled backwards and it tells you exactly what you need to know,” Gottheimer said.
The public can weigh in on the MTA’s congestion pricing report by submitting comments and participating in one of six virtual public hearings scheduled to take place in the next few weeks. The dates and times of these hearings are:
August 25, from August 17 to 20. August 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. August 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. August 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. August 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. 31, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m
More information can be found in the MTAs web site.