Lawmakers pushing back at congestion pricing plan

2 years ago 281

LODI, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Some New Jersey lawmakers are pushing backmost astatine New York City’s congestion pricing plan.

They accidental Garden State commuters are already paying capable successful tolls earlier they get to the city.

Bella Vara says it tin instrumentality much than 90 minutes to question conscionable 7 miles from her New Jersey location to her occupation arsenic a plan relationship enforcement successful Manhattan.

“It’s already ridiculous,” she said.

It’s a trek made much frustrating by the tolls she already pays and the ones that would beryllium added by New York’s congestion pricing plan.

“I’m truly not up for paying those kinds of prices,” Vara said.

“They’ll get whacked not lone with a $16-a-day toll that they wage now, but present a caller ridiculous further $15-a-day congestion taxation erstwhile they thrust southbound of 60th Street,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer, of New Jersey, said.

Gottheimer connected Wednesday announced bipartisan national authorities called the Anti-Congestion Tax Act to combat New York.

“What other you request from Jersey? You privation america to radiance your shoes?” helium said.

“Like $31, that’s conscionable beauteous ridiculous, to beryllium honest,” Saddlebrook nonmigratory Lirim Ramadani said.

The authorities Gottheimer’s pushing would artifact the Secretary of Transportation from awarding caller superior concern grants for MTA projects successful New York if congestion pricing goes done and does not exempt the New Jersey crossings.

It besides establishes a national taxation recognition for New Jersey drivers.

“This is an effort by New York to erstwhile again mooch disconnected of Jersey and unit our hard-working families to wage treble taxes portion nary of the taxation gross adjacent goes to Jersey astatine each oregon helps our ain wide transit system, which, of course, needs the help,” Gottheimer said.

CBS2’s Dave Carlin spoke to the politician of Lodi, which is located astir 15 miles from Midtown, Manhattan, and asked however congestion pricing would interaction residents.

“If they got to wage $31 and more, backmost and forth, positive gas, I mean, it’s insane,” Mayor Scott Luna said.

Some Garden State lawmakers pass New York, 2 states tin bash this.

“Captured from E-ZPass and if you’re an out-of-state driver, non-New Jersey driver, you’re going to wage an other interest for coming into New Jersey,” Sen. Joe Lagana said.

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If implemented, New York City would beryllium the archetypal U.S. metropolis to usage congestion pricing, joining cities astir the satellite including London, Singapore and Stockholm.

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