get ready for some toll hikes today the MTA board approved the tolling and credit recommendations proposed by the traffic Mobility review board last week which includes a $15 toll for cars it's the first meeting since the recommendations were announced officials say they hope to put the plan into place by Spring 2024 after a 60-day public comment period and a final vote meanwhile New Jersey officials continue to criticize a plan and have accused New York of overburdening its residents with new tolls senior correspondent Brenda Flanigan has more as the congestion pricing War rages [Music] on the MTA voted overwhelmingly 9 to one to move forward with plans for congestion pricing in New York City's Central business district below 60th Street it had add another 15 bucks on top of regular daytime tolls for most cars headed into the City and up to $36 more for big trucks this is is a great piece of public policy it will benefit New Yorkers for decades to come but is it good for New Jersey depends on who you ask some opponents slam the higher tolls calling them unaffordable for regular folks even with a $5 commuter rebate at the tunnels John Samuelson resigned from the committee that recommended congestion pricing tolls so what do they expect a nurse to do who lives in New Jersey who has to be in work at 5:00 in the morning and there's no public transit option that they have to drive they have to drive they should not be penalized because New Jersey has a crappy public transit system they should not be penalized the mta's low no vote also cited pricing $24 that's what it would be to go in and see your son or daughter or to go to see a show or to go to have dinner I cannot vote for it but support reporters argued the plan will cut traffic congestion and reduce pollution across the region especially if it pushes more trucks to travel at night when the plan offers Vehicles a 75% discount we fully understand the regional benefits that it can provide which would be cleaner air for everyone um more consistent and dedicated funding for public transit which is important and definitely less congestion if you choose to drive the base rate of $15 charged once a day is a good balance high enough to make people think twice about driving but not too high for those who have have no choice but New Jersey officials who wanted much higher rebates and pollution mitigation filed a federal lawsuit to block the MTA congestion pricing plan and while it didn't impact today's vote it has thrown up a roadblock for the agency's current capital projects plan delaying a signal project on a Brookland rail line the lawsuit from New Jersey continues to put this funding at risk despite the benefits to the vast majority of New Jersey commuters who use Transit even though we're very confident about the merits of congestion pricing we are now at the point where some projects will need to be delayed because as the chair said we can't award contracts funding funded by congestion pricing until we know that the funding is secure we're hoping that New Jersey wants to resolve this and that we can start to work together putting the politics aside um I think that is good for new jerseyans for a couple reasons one uh most more New Jersey commuters get on the MTA than drive two for the people who do have to drive or who choose to drive notwithstanding congestion pricing we hope that they're going to have a faster trip congestion pricing is expected to raise billions to fund MTA Improvement projects and New Jersey officials object I don't look around to New York and say Hey you know we've got problems over here you should pay for all those problems that's what New York wants to do they're turn around to Jersey and say hey we're going to stick it to you extra but New York Governor Kathy hokel told congestion pricing supporters yesterday from time to time leaders are called upon to Envision a better future be bold in the implementation and execution and be undaunted by the opposition that's how you secure progress the public now gets another 60 days to comment on the proposed Plan before the MTA takes a final vote the agency envisions a live launch of the system in late spring New Jersey's lawsuit not withstanding in lower Manhattan I'm Brenda Flanigan NJ Spotlight News [Music]