On Monday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged President Donald Trump to intervene and eliminate New York’s congestion pricing, labeling it a “disaster for New Jersey commuters” and stating that it “must receive the close look it deserves from the federal government.”

The congestion pricing, which began on January 5, charges passenger vehicles $9 during peak hours for traveling south of 60th Street in Manhattan. Trucks and buses are charged up to $21.60. The fees are reduced by 75% during nighttime hours.

In a letter addressed to President Trump, Murphy, a Democrat, expressed his concern that New York Governor Kathy Hochul was unfairly burdening New Jersey drivers by implementing the congestion pricing plan, especially since they are already paying to access the business district via the Port Authority’s Hudson River crossings.

“New York’s scheme has never been well designed or adequately studied, and the lack of proper analysis was exacerbated over the last year as officials repeatedly made significant changes to the program and secretly rushed them through federal approvals,” the governor stated.

Murphy went on to say, “The resulting congestion pricing plan is a disaster for working- and middle-class New Jersey commuters who need or want to visit lower Manhattan and now need to pay a big fee on top of the bridge and tunnel fees they already pay.”

Trump had previously voiced his intention to eliminate the congestion pricing plan.

{Matzav.com}