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WPCNR CONGESTION TIMES. Wrapup and Unwrap by John F. Bailey January 1, 2025:

New York’s congestion pricing  is begins midnight Sunday January 5 despite New Jersey Federal Court Judge Leo Gordon’s 72-page decision Monday saying the plan needed Federal High Way Administration approval. The judge gave January 17 as a deadline for that approval or disapproval by the FHWA. (Editor’s Note: if the FHWY does not act by then, action could conceivably be delayed until the new administration FHWY head takes over after the new President-Elect is iinaugurated.)

Cars would pay a peak fee of $9 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. $2.25 other times

The judge’s ruling came in a 72-page decision Monday evening. The MTA Chairman announced after review with legal counsel said the MTA would start congestion pricing anyway:

“We’re gratified that on virtually every issue, Judge Gordon agreed with the New York federal court and rejected New Jersey’s claim that the Environmental Assessment approved 18 months ago was deficient,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “Most important, the decision does not interfere with the program’s scheduled implementation this coming Sunday, January 5.”

In the decision, the judge said because of the questions for the federal government, “this matter is remanded to the FHWA until January 17, 2025 for the FHWA to take actions in conformity with this Opinion.”

New Jersey disagreed:

“We welcome the court’s ruling today in the congestion pricing lawsuit. Because of New Jersey’s litigation, the judge has ordered a remand, and the MTA therefore cannot proceed with implementing the current congestion pricing proposal on January 5, 2025,” said attorney Randy Mastro, who represents New Jersey.

Governor Kathy Hochul, after Judge Gordon’s decision was released, issued a news release that New York State would proceed with starting the Congestion Tolls Sunday at midnight January 5 anyway. Here is the Governor’s statement:

“Despite the best efforts of the State of New Jersey trying to thwart New York’s ability to reduce congestion on our streets while making long-overdue investments in public transit, our position has prevailed in court on nearly every issue. This is a massive win for commuters in both New York and New Jersey. Now that the judge has issued his ruling, the program will move forward this weekend with a 40 percent reduction in the originally proposed cost of the toll.

“Commuters deserve a world-class transit system that’s safe, efficient and modern. Local residents deserve clean air and safe streets. Drivers deserve less congestion and reduced traffic. This is what we will begin to achieve — at a lower cost to drivers — when congestion pricing begins on January 5.”