Feds Approve Massive Toll Hike For NJ Commuters

NEW YORK CITY — New Jersey commuters bound for Manhattan could end up paying thousands more per year after federal officials gave the final green light to congestion pricing in New York City, according to officials and reports.

The approval announced Monday effectively clears the lane for a Metropolitan Transit Authority panel to set tolls to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. MTA officials have not decided on tolls but have been eyeing fees from $9 to $23 during peak times.

The final approval from the federal government, first reported by the New York Times, came at the end of an environmental assessment process long-delayed by former President Donald Trump's administration.

"Congestion pricing will reduce traffic in our crowded downtown, improve air quality and provide critical resources to the MTA," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement reported by the New York Times. "With the green light from the federal government, we look forward to moving ahead with implementing this program."

Despite receiving the thumbs up, the plan has received significant pushback from New Jersey lawmakers who decried tolls as unfair to commuters and congestion pricing as a cash grab for the MTA, which would receive billions of dollars of funding from congestion pricing.

In May, a bipartisan group of Congress members from the Garden State called on Hochul to cancel the plan, saying it would "impose significant new costs" on New Jersey commuters and families.

• RELATED: NJ Lawmakers Say NYC Congestion Pricing Is An 'Unfair Hit'

The signees included Reps. Thomas Kean Jr., Frank Pallone Jr., Bill Pascrell Jr., Donald Payne Jr., Mikie Sherrill, Jeff Van Drew and Bonnie Watson Coleman.

"New York's congestion pricing plan is currently an unfair hit against New Jersey families that will double tax the almost 400,000 New Jersey residents who work in New York City and contribute immensely to the city's economy," the lawmakers wrote.

The letter continued, "At a time when families across the Northeast are already dealing with rising prices and high living costs, this added tax on simply getting to work is unacceptable."

In the end, the approval effectively guarantees congestion pricing will go forward, but MTA officials still need to decide on final tolls and when the plan will begin.

Congestion pricing could start as soon as spring 2024, the New York Times reported.

Meanwhile, New Jersey officials and lawmakers, including Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Bob Menendez, and Congressman Josh Gottheimer have vowed to keep fighting the plan, according to New Jersey 101.5. Murphy has retained a law firm to explore legal options, the station reported, and is expected to publicly release the state's next course of action soon.