As New York City prepares to implement congestion pricing, concerns are rising among New Jersey policymakers about the potential financial impact on Garden State residents and businesses. New Jersey Sen. George Helmy has suggested that the new $9 toll for cars, which would be levied during peak hours to drive into Manhattan below 60th Street, might prompt businesses to relocate to New Jersey, as CBS News New York reported. "I think, frankly, it's bad for New Jersey and it's bad for the city," Helmy said in an interview with Marcia Kramer on "The Point with Marcia Kramer."
A number of business groups and officials, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, have expressed opposition to the congestion pricing, citing the potentially adverse effects on New Jersey workers and businesses with high numbers of employees who commute into the city every day. Helmy mentioned on the program that the influx into Jersey City and Hoboken has already seen an uptick, and he believes more businesses might make the shift to avoid the tolls although these towns are already dealing with their growth-related challenges, New York's decision could add a layer of complication for those commuting across the Hudson River.
On "The Point with Marcia Kramer," Helmy further noted, "A lot of the employees who come into the city every day are New Jerseyans, mostly north New Jerseyans or live in our shore communities," indicating his concern for the regional workforce, according to CBS News New York. This sentiment ties in directly with criticism from other New Jersey politicians like Rep. Mikie Sherrill who, along with Gottheimer, stand against the New York congestion pricing. "This plan is a tax on New Jersey families meant to force New Jerseyans to pay for MTA upgrades — all without getting a cent back for NJ TRANSIT," Sherrill told The New York Post, a point that underscores the interstate tension the plan has spurred.
Legal challenges against the congestion plan are underway, with nearly a dozen lawsuits being filed, which highlights the discontent among not just politicians, but also constituents and businesses affected by the proposal set to commence on January 5, 2025. Governor Murphy's legal team even urged a Newark federal judge to make a decision on one such significant lawsuit, hoping to mitigate or perhaps overturn the congestion pricing strategy. "I have consistently expressed openness to a form of congestion pricing that meaningfully protects the environment and does not put unfair burdens upon hardworking New Jersey commuters," Murphy articulated, emphasizing his stance on finding a balanced approach according to a statement obtained by The New York Post.
