The clock is ticking, however a federal decide in Manhattan mentioned Friday he’ll rule quickly on a movement to cease the state’s congestion pricing program earlier than it goes into impact on Jan. 5.
Decide Lewis Liman advised legal professionals for the Trucking Affiliation of New York — who, together with attorneys representing a consortium of Manhattan residents and the United Federation of Academics and the Borough of Staten Island, have filed for an injunction to cease the controversial toll — that he’s “aware of the time pressure” within the case.
The trucking affiliation legal professionals argued that the pricing plan overcharges vans whereas undercharging taxis and different for-hire vehicles that make up the majority of the visitors in Manhattan.
The plan in its present iteration will cost atypical vehicles $9 as soon as a day to enter the congestion pricing zone however will cost vans between $14.40 and $21.60 every time they enter, relying on their measurement.
“We’re looking for pricing parity,” TANY legal professional Brian Carr mentioned. “We’re looking for fairness — this is not fair.”
Congestion-pricing toll readers are pictured at W. sixtieth St. and Broadway in Manhattan on Friday, March 15, 2024, in New York Metropolis. (Barry Williams / New York Every day Information)
The congestion pricing plan prices autos by measurement and use, with decrease tolls for bikes and better ones for vans and non-commuter buses.
Taxis, Ubers and Lyfts will probably be charged per journey, with the toll in these instances handed on to the passenger.
“Do you deny that trucks are bigger?” Liman requested Carr, pushing again on the argument that vans weren’t a big contributing issue to congestion.
Ought to Liman rule within the plaintiffs’ favor, congestion pricing will probably be paused pending a trial on the authorized problem’s deserves. If he denies the movement, congestion pricing will proceed as deliberate whereas a trial continues.
The MTA has additionally filed a movement for abstract judgment, asking Liman to dismiss the plaintiffs’ instances with out trial.
Susan Lee, president of New Yorkers In opposition to Congestion Pricing Tax, speaks outdoors Manhattan Federal Court docket Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams / New York Every day Information)
Liman mentioned Friday that he would possible maintain a convention among the many events after making a choice on the injunction, all of which might occur earlier than he dominated on the MTA’s movement to dismiss.
Congestion pricing — which was lately revived by Gov. Hochul with decrease toll prices after she intervened to pause the plan in June — is required by New York State legislation as a way to again an issuance of $15 billion in bonds towards the MTA’s capital price range.
The Manhattan federal continuing is considered one of a number of working its method via the justice system within the weeks forward of congestion pricing’s deliberate begin.
Hearings are anticipated Monday in a Westchester case searching for to cease the toll, and a ruling is predicted imminently within the state of New Jersey’s go well with towards the visitors plan.
