Hudson Today

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Standing outside of the New Jersey entrance to the Holland Tunnel, Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) on May 9 discussed the potential adverse impacts of New York City’s congestion pricing plan on New Jersey residents and communities.

 “New York’s congestion pricing plan stands to push traffic and pollution to our communities while also shifting revenue from the Port Authority to the MTA,” said Congressman Menendez. “While New York is funding environmental mitigation in the Bronx – they refuse to do so for our communities. And instead of working with us to support the new Port Authority Bus Terminal, PATH service, and to expand the NYC Subway’s 7 line to New Jersey, New York is working to shift revenue to the MTA to the detriment of our bus and train commuters. I am committed to working with Rep. Gottheimer, our Congressional delegation, and Governor Murphy to fight this inequitable plan.”

“Rather than listen to facts and families — like the 75% of those who testified against the Congestion Tax in public hearings — the U.S. Department of Transportation is choosing to ignore the facts that the MTA submitted to the federal government in their own reports about the negative environmental effects of congestion pricing.” said Congressman Gottheimer. “In their own report last year, the MTA admitted to the DOT that the Congestion Tax will not only cause more traffic here at the tunnel and at the Lincoln and GW Bridge, but that it will also increase air pollution affecting our children and families. The DOT’s response? Don’t bother submitting a more in-depth environmental impact study. A little odd for an Administration that claims to be committed to protecting the environment. Because of the Congestion Tax moving pollution elsewhere, the MTA is going to have to set up an asthma treatment program. If that’s not an admission of environmental guilt, I don't know what is!”

New York’s congestion pricing plan has brought up significant concerns of impacts in communities outside of Manhattan which include:

• Increasing air pollution in New Jersey and areas of New York outside Manhattan. 
  • While the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) plans to spend $130 million in revenue to mitigate impacts in New York – the MTA does not plan to share revenues with New Jersey for the same purpose. 
• Driving more traffic to Eighth Congressional District communities around PATH and NJ TRANSIT stations – with more drivers gridlocking and parking in our cities and towns.
• Depriving the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) of an estimated $125 million a year in toll revenues. 
  • These losses may impact the new Port Authority Bus Terminal and plans to improve PATH service while also adding more riders.

Additionally, Congressman Menendez highlighted that New York’s plan includes no expansion of the New York City Subway’s 7 line to Secaucus Junction – a solution previously proposed by New York that would provide a real commuting alternative and get cars off the road.

Original source can be found here.