Gov. Murphy submits letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board to ensure fair treatment of New Jerseyans entering Manhattan’s Central Business District
NEW JERSEY – Governor Phil Murphy Thursday submitted a letter to the Traffic Mobility Review Board outlining recommendations the Board must take to ensure the fair treatment of New Jerseyans entering Manhattan’s Central Business District (CBD).
The Governor urged the Board to enact the following changes to the current congestion pricing proposal:
(1) All commuters who cross into Manhattan through the Holland or Lincoln Tunnels, or across the George Washington Bridge, should be provided full credits without caps for crossing tolls;
(2) All commuter buses should be exempted from CBD tolls;
(3) CBD tolls should not be collected during off-peak hours;
(4) Any CBD tolls should reflect the extent to which a vehicle actually contributes to congestion by remaining and operating within the CBD; and
(5) All low-income commuters should receive credits for CBD tolls.
“Undeterred by the MTA’s failure to allow for significant public input regarding its misguided tolling program, my Administration has delivered an array of carefully formulated recommendations that will promote the fair and equitable treatment of New Jerseyans entering Manhattan’s Central Business District,” Murphy said. “To be clear, my Administration remains steadfast in its lawsuit challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of the MTA’s Environmental Assessment and issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Nonetheless, while we remain resolutely opposed to the MTA’s discriminatory congestion pricing scheme, our recommendations will help prevent the MTA from balancing its budget on the backs of hardworking New Jerseyans.”
The second Traffic Mobility Review Board Meeting is scheduled for today, August 17, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A livestream is available here.
