Environmental Impact of Congestion Pricing on New Jersey

By Soteri Homenides

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has taken aim at the MTA’s congestion pricing plan. Murphy, alongside numerous prominent state politicians, has filed a federal suit against the federal transportation department on grounds of insufficient environmental review. Making the case that indirect impacts to traffic flow would put more cars through New Jersey, the state aims to prevent the pricing plan. NJ politicians feel the MTA did not adequately consider the impact on traffic flow, suggesting that instead some people will continue driving, but just over the George Washington Bridge instead, further polluting Bergen County. Additionally, the MTA plan has allocated funds to address the environmental impact expected in the Bronx, but not in NJ.

The legal battles come as just the latest snag in a long history of troubles between the states over the management of traffic flow between them. NJ has ulterior motives to oppose the congestion pricing plan, Murphy argues that the redirection of some traffic flow through MTA tolls instead of NYNJPATH ones, would lessen tax revenue of the state to the tune of some one billion dollars. New York politicians counter by saying that NY taxes subsidize NYC Transit fares and this system is one many NJ commuters rely on. While the politicians squabble over the most appropriate solutions, environmentalist voters are not satisfied.

Environmentalists in New Jersey recently organized outside the governor’s house, advocating for less focus on car traffic, more investment in clean air and in the mass transit system. There is a strong sentiment that the court filing’s basis of environmental concern is a facade, instead focused on tax revenue. It is further argued that if the state was focused on environmental concerns, they would not spend billions on a new set of lanes into the Holland Tunnel. 

New Jersey’s case does have decent legal prospects and could delay the program – of which toll infrastructure has already been set up. Overall, it is unclear the potential impacts of the case, however we can certainly expect fierce and constant debate between the states.