Gottheimer testifies against MTA’s congestion tax during public hearing

NEW JERSEY — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Tuesday testified during tonight’s public hearing to stand up against New York and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) cash-grabbing Congestion Tax

New York and the MTA’s Congestion Tax could go into effect as early as 2023 and would cost Jersey and New York drivers up to $23 dollars a day — more than $5,000 a year — on top of the already far-too-high $16-a-day tolls for our bridges and tunnels, to drive south of 60th Street to work in New York City from Jersey.

No revenue from the Congestion Tax goes to support New Jersey, unlike the shared Port Authority tolls, Gottheimer said.

“I join an overwhelming majority of those who’ve already testified in strongly opposing the MTA’s outrageous Congestion Tax, not only because it will drain our families’ pocketbooks and small businesses who are already struggling, but it also does nothing to actually help the environment or ease congestion,” Gottheimer said during his testimony at tonight’s MTA hearing. “In fact, for those of us in North Jersey near bridges and tunnels, to those in the outer boroughs, and north of 60th in Manhattan, the Congestion Tax, by the MTA’s own admission, will lead to more traffic and pollution, disproportionately hurt lower income families, and poison our children’s air.”

Members of the public can submit comments to the MTA opposing the Congestion Tax to make their voices heard before September 9. Typed and recorded video comments can be emailed to CBDTP@mtabt.org or submitted at mta-nyc.custhelp.com/app/cbd_tolling.