Mayhem erupts over new $15 surcharge every driver will have to pay to travel over certain streets as state battles back
FIREWORKS will explode in federal court as warring parties are scheduled to argue over a controversial new toll rule.
New York City is working toward launching congestion pricing in parts of its most popular, space-strapped streets.
However, New Jersey's state officials have argued the toll would impact the state's air quality.
The state of New Jersey's lawyers will descend on a Newark Federal Court Wednesday and Thursday.
They are set to take on congestion pricing-positive parties, including the US Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).
New Jersey's lawyers have argued that the MTA didn't thoroughly review the environmental impact on neighboring communities.
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An MTA spokesperson,John McCarthy, called the claim "baseless," according to The New York Post.
New York City's MTA approved plans to implement congestion pricing tolls in late March.
The rules would impose a $3.75 to $15 toll on cars driving through Manhattan's grid south of 61st Street.
The city said the plan would raise funds for public transportation, reduce localized air pollution, and help emergency response times.
"Crosstown now, traffic moves at walking speed," Manhattan Burough President Mark Levine said, according to CBS News.
"It's slowing police response, fire response."
Funds from the toll collection would directly fund the MTA's ailing subway system.
Dozens of subways burrowed under New York's streets are guided by nearly century-old electronic communications.
Several tunnels have been damaged by inclement weather - including when New York was hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, damaging $19 billion worth of infrastructure, according to the city.
The tolls would collect a projected $1 billion revenue for the MTA.
However, New Jersey's governor, Phil Murphy, has long argued that the tolls will force residents in other states to foot the bill.
We’re not going to take it, we will not relent.
Phil Murphy
"The costs of standing idly by while the MTA uses New Jersey residents to help balance its budget sheets are more than economic," Murphy said when filing the lawsuit against congestion pricing in July 2023.
"We’re not going to take it, we will not relent."
Reviews of the project predict that tolls will reduce traffic in the southern streets of Manhattan by as much as 60%.
They also found that areas around the city, including New Jersey, will likely see an increase in traffic.
McCarthy said the assessment "actually covered every conceivable potential traffic, air quality, social and economic effect, and also reviewed and responded to more than 80,000 comments and submissions."
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He also added that public officials held six public hearings and 19 outreach sessions, all available to New Jersey residents and officials, to hear public input on the legislation.