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(New York, NY) – Despite several legal battles and attempts to reverse course, the brakes on congestion pricing have been lifted. On Friday, Judge Leo Gordon clarified an earlier ruling from this past Monday, addressing environmental concerns from New Jersey. Attorneys for the Garden State argue that the plan will have adverse consequences on the environment, specifically areas around Manhattan where drivers may attempt to avoid the new toll. Gordon says that regulators need to look at mitigating factors and funding for New Jersey, but the plan can still go into effect Sunday at midnight.
The MTA was pleased with the decision. Chairman Janno Lieber hopes that the lawsuits over the plan are officially over. Meanwhile, President-Elect Donald Trump has said that he opposes the plan and will get rid of it once he is in office. It is not yet clear if he has the authority to overturn the plan.
