|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By: Don Driggers
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is taking aim at neighboring Gov. Kathy Hochul over New York’s congestion pricing program — with an ad campaign aimed at wooing Big Apple residents and businesses into relocating to his state, according to an exclusive report from The New York Post.
“New York’s congestion tax scheme is unfair for North Jersey commuters who already pay so much in tolls and fees,” Murphy said in a statement, referring to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority‘s controversial higher “congestion tax” that Jerseyans would have to pay to enter Midtown Manhattan.
“At the same time, it presents an opportunity for us to stress the value proposition of New Jersey for New York City residents and businesses alike: an ideal location, talented pool of workers, less congestion, and, most importantly, no congestion tax. I’m out there every day making the argument for why businesses should give New Jersey a close look for relocation.”
Starting Monday, Choose NJ — New Jersey’s not-for-profit economic development arm allied with Murphy — will run digital ads at key strategic crossings on the New York side of the Hudson entering or leaving Manhattan.
One ad reads: “PAY A CONGESTION TAX TO SIT IN NYC TRAFFIC? GET OUTTA HERE. Move your business to New Jersey.”
At the bottom right, the billboards urge motorists to visit Choose NJ’s website, thisisnewjersey.com. The substantial six-figure ad buy will run for a few weeks, New Jersey officials said to Carl Campanile of The New York Post.
Many New Yorkers already move to Jersey every year for more affordable housing, space and better schooling.
Hochul backs the congestion pricing the MTA plans to charge to enter the business zone south of 60th Street, a toll that’s likely to cost motorists between $9 and $23, while trucks could face a charge of up to $85 depending on their size.
The authorization for the tolling plan was originally approved by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — when Hochul was his lieutenant governor — and the New York Legislature in 2019.
The plan had been tied up in bureaucratic reviews but inched closer to reality when President Biden — via the Federal Highway Administration — tentatively signed off on the MTA’s long-delayed environmental assessment of New York City’s quest to implement tolling in parts of Manhattan.
“Governor Hochul is committed to implementing congestion pricing to reduce traffic, improve air quality, and support our public transit system,” said Hochul spokesman John Lindsay.
“We’ve worked closely with partners across government and with community members over the last four years to develop a plan that will achieve these goals. The finding of legal sufficiency is a critical step that will allow our Environmental Assessment to be publicly available for anyone to read, and we will continue to work with our partners to move congestion pricing forward.”
The MTA, which will run the tolling system, defended the plan as pro-business as well as pro-environment.
“New York has a world-renowned economy that attracts the most talented people and companies. Economies that thrive in the 21st century will be those with less congestion and car dependency,” said MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan.
