Sherrill Condemns Final Exorbitant NYC Congestion Pricing Toll
“The Courts Must Halt This From Going Forward Until [NJ] Lawsuit Concludes”
Livingston, NJ — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after the MTA Board finalized the pricing structure of their unfair congestion tax on New Jersey commuters. Drivers from the Garden State will now be forced to pay between $10 and $15 in extra tolls just to get to work in New York City each day. New Jersey commuters already pay a $17 toll when they cross the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, almost double the toll paid on the bridges connecting Manhattan with the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, not to mention the many bridges between Manhattan and those boroughs, such as the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge, that aren’t tolled at all.
“It is unacceptable that New York and the MTA are moving forward with this unfair congestion pricing tax, despite the serious concerns raised by New Jersey residents and the elected officials who represent them. This plan adds at least $2600 in annual costs to a family’s budget if they work in the city, putting a tremendous burden on low-income families and those with limited public transit options, as well as the economic competitiveness of our region. All this without a cent going to public transit in New Jersey, a move that would actually address the issue of congestion. The lawsuit filed by the state of New Jersey against this plan is still ongoing. The courts must halt this from going forward until the lawsuit concludes,” said Rep. Sherrill.
Sherrill has consistently fought back against New York’s congestion pricing plan that will raise costs for New Jersey commuters. In May 2023, she led a bipartisan letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to cancel the pending implementation of the plan. In June 2023, Sherrill called upon the State of New Jersey to sue New York over congestion pricing, which Gov. Murphy did in July. Also in June 2023, Sherrill submitted a comment to the Department of Transportation on New York’s Congestion Pricing Environmental Assessment that expressed her significant concerns with how the plan will impact New Jersey residents.
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