NJ Gov. Phil Murphy appeals to Trump: Stop congestion pricing

Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News on Jan 21, 2025

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NEW YORK — After a federal lawsuit brought by his administration failed to stop New York’s congestion pricing plan, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is appealing to another power: President Donald Trump.

“As you begin your second term as president, I welcome any opportunity to work with you and your administration where we can find common ground,” the Garden State Democrat wrote in an open letter to Trump on Inauguration Day. “One area where I believe our priorities align is congestion pricing.”

New York’s congestion pricing plan, which tolls drivers on Manhattan’s surface streets at 60th and below, has been in effect since Jan. 5 — following a yearslong environmental study approved by the federal government and multiple legal challenges brought by the Murphy administration and others.

Trump, a former New York resident, has been an outspoken opponent of the plan.

In May, the once and future president said on social media that he would “TERMINATE” the toll during his first week in office — underscoring the pledge with multiple exclamation points.

Trump called the toll a “business killer” and claimed that the plan — which was required by a 2019 New York state law — was rushed and “railroaded” into effect by the administration of former President Joe Biden.

Murphy reminded Trump of that post Monday.

“I know we share significant concerns about these developments,” Murphy wrote.

A federal judge in Newark knocked down New Jersey’s effort to pause the plan earlier this month, ruling that a 4,000-page environmental assessment of the plan was sufficient to proceed, and the feds had been within their right to approve it.

Attorneys for New Jersey have vowed to appeal the ruling.

The congestion pricing plan tolls the majority of drivers $9 once a day to drive on surface streets in Midtown and lower Manhattan, with discounts for those who enter via the already-tolled tunnel crossings into the zone.

The toll is meant to reduce overall vehicular congestion within the tolling zone, as well as to generate enough revenue to back $15 billion in bonds for MTA construction and repair projects.