Congressman Josh GodHeimer (Democrat, New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District), who has consistently criticized the Manhattan traffic congestion tax, said on the 17th that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) would provide a portion of the congestion tax revenue to New Jersey, saying, “Please don’t throw crumbs.” He dismissed it, saying, “It is.” On the 18th, Rep.
GodHeimer responded to MTA Chairman Geno Lieber’s position to provide a portion of toll revenue to New Jersey, saying, “Throwing a few crumbs will not solve the problem of the congestion tax, which imposes a burden of over $4,000 per year on New Jersey working families.” “The MTA has ignored countless people who have begged them not to pollute their communities,” he said.
Representative Godheimer, who has long criticized the Manhattan traffic congestion tax, said, “The federal government is conducting a comprehensive environmental impact assessment to thoroughly check the problems of environmental pollution and increased traffic congestion that will be experienced in areas outside New York City, such as New Jersey, due to the implementation of the Manhattan traffic congestion tax.” We maintained our previous position that “we must do it.”
On the 17th, MTA Chairman River announced his intention to provide congestion tax revenue to New Jersey but did not mention details such as the size. The MTA’s goal is to implement a congestion tax in Manhattan by mid-June, but a lawsuit filed by the New Jersey state government remains the biggest obstacle. The New Jersey state government is raising the issue in the lawsuit that New Jersey residents only pay tolls and do not receive any benefits regarding the Manhattan traffic congestion tax.
The MTA’s position is that the implementation of a congestion tax is necessary to secure the $1 billion annual cost to be spent on improving New York City’s public transportation facilities, but the New Jersey state government says that damage such as environmental pollution and traffic congestion caused by vehicles detouring to avoid the congestion tax should be borne by neighbors. The position is that it will be passed on to New Jersey.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who has sharply criticized Manhattan’s traffic congestion tax, has not yet expressed a special position.