There’s now no question where Gov. Phil Murphy stands over a proposed congestion pricing plan for New York City. Calling it “an idea whose time has not come,” it’s an about-face from roughly a month ago when Murphy said he “loves the concept” of the plan which will toll drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street so long as New Jersey motorists didn’t bear the brunt of that cost.
While Murphy insists there’s cooperation with his “colleagues across the river,” he deployed the E-ZPass database managed by the transportation department to send out the message to subscribers that “MTA’s congestion pricing plan will increase costs and congestion for New Jersey drivers,” with a link to the Metropolitan Transportation Authroity’s comments section. The MTA has been holding public hearings on the plan since last week. The governor defended the use of the E-ZPass database Tuesday, saying he didn’t think it invaded anyone’s privacy.
