New York State offered New Jersey just a $3 discount to drivers entering Manhattan to offset Midtown's new $9 toll, but Garden State officials say the tax will jump to $15. The person scoffed, saying that once the deal was over, the discount meant virtually nothing.
The farcical proposal was proposed during secret court-ordered negotiations by New Jersey to settle a federal lawsuit against New York, before the damning congestion toll went into effect on Sunday, people familiar with the talks said. spoke.
Federal Judge Leo Gordon, who was hearing the Garden State's challenge to the nation's first congestion pricing, ordered the belligerent state to give New York and the MTA some relief for commuters in neighboring Jersey. He urged them to try to reach a compromise.
People close to the confidential talks in U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., said New York was too stingy and the talks broke down, prompting Gordon to reject New Jersey's proposal to block the Sunday toll from taking effect. said.
“New York only offered $3 credits for all three intersections.” [the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln and Holland tunnels]It made no sense,” the source said.
“New Jersey considered this a very small amount given that congestion charges would eventually rise to $15 over time.”
“New Jersey will provide more than $3 in credits to commuters at all three intersections entering New York City, and meaningful mitigation funding that reflects the real impact that congestion pricing has on New Jersey’s air quality. “New Jersey's wishes have been clear and consistent, including providing for the state of New Jersey,” the official said.
But another person told the Post that the Empire State agreed to extend the 33% credit in conjunction with the rate increase. For example, if your charges reach $15, your credit will jump to $5.
The new fee is scheduled to rise to $12 by 2028 and $15 by 2031.
A second source said Mr Jersey had misread or misread the offer.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because a judge had ordered a gag order against the debate.
Either way, Garden State officials are furious.
The two countries should cooperate on regional transportation and economic development issues through the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, an agency jointly overseen by the two governors of New York and New Jersey, but not through tolls. Political influences are expected to influence it. relationship.
The MTA will provide New Jersey with $30 million in pollution mitigation needed for the toll road, which is expected to increase traffic in North Jersey as people drive to get closer to mass transit into Manhattan. officials said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy considered the amount an insult, officials said.
Meanwhile, the MTA and New York Governor Cathy have committed more than $100 million to New York communities, including $71.7 million in the Bronx alone, to curb the additional pollution expected in these areas from tolls. (which he boasts about in his press release). .
Hochul and the MTA claimed to have offered “hundreds of millions of dollars” to settle the case, but one source claimed this was “complete fiction.”
For example, New York state offered $500 million to make up the $1 billion shortfall to build a new Port Authority bus terminal, but the two states have already made up the shortfall, according to people familiar with the talks. The cost was split in half to compensate.
But another person said Hochul and the MTA never committed $500 million to PA Bus Terminal.
“Talk about crap. New Jersey withdrew from a deal that was supposed to help its own voters. All because it rejected a deal that would have given New York and New Jersey commuters equal treatment.” New York the official said.
“New York was prepared to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to resolve this case, but there is no chance that Jersey would be given benefits not available to New Yorkers,” said a person familiar with New York's thinking. Ta.
“They are [Jersey officials] “We were betting that we would win the case and now we have egg on our faces,” the source said.
A representative for Mr Murphy said: “We will continue to fight this unfair and unpopular plan.”
