- Can MTA Start Congestion Pricing On Sunday? Friday Federal Court Hearing Should Provide The Answer.
- New York Thruway Service Area Redevelopment Program Will Reach Completion This Year
- West Virginia Turnpike Opens Renovated Beckley Service Area
- US Government Agencies Will Close For Carter State Funeral
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Can MTA Start Congestion Pricing On Sunday? Friday Federal Court Hearing Should Provide The Answer.
CBS News New York reports, the legal muddle over the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s ability to start collecting congestion pricing tolls this Sunday, January 5, could be resolved in federal court tomorrow. That’s when US District Court Judge Leo Gordon is scheduled to hold a hearing on an eleventh-hour motion for a temporary restraining order filed by lawyers for New Jersey.
On Monday, Judge Gordon issued an opinion that denied New Jersey’s request for a preliminary injunction based on alleged defects in the program’s environmental approval. However, he also directed New York and federal officials to elaborate on some aspects of the program’s impact on New Jersey communities. Both MTA and New Jersey “declared victory, with the MTA saying it was planning on going forward Sunday morning. But New Jersey lawmakers read the ruling differently. [Tomorrow’s] hearing is to clear up the confusion.”
The New York Times filed separate reports on Judge Gordon’s Monday ruling and New Jersey’s last-ditch, New Year’s Eve attempt to block the start of tolling.
Congestion Pricing Issues of Law Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New Jersey New York New York CityNew York Thruway Service Area Redevelopment Program Will Reach Completion This Year
The Citizen reports, Empire State Thruway Partners, the consortium led by Applegreen LTD, is nearing the end of the effort it launched in 2021 to rebuild or renovate all 27 service areas on the New York State Thruway. To date, 24 modernized facilities are in operation. The company will reopen the Angola and Mohawk service areas in this year’s first quarter, while it expects to complete the final area, Modena, toward the end of this year.
The article notes that the project “got off to a slow start” due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues. Empire State’s privately funded, $450 million undertaking includes a 33-year concession to operate the facilities, 23 of which will have been completely rebuilt.
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Iris Buyer LLC and Applegreen PLC New York New York State Thruway Authority P3 & Privatization Service PlazasWest Virginia Turnpike Opens Renovated Beckley Service Area
CDLLife reports, the upgraded facility includes 35 additional truck parking spaces, bringing the total to 165. It also features separate fueling for passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers, as well as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and expanded restrooms. The $152 million project to replace both the Beckley and Bluestone plazas started in 2023. Bluestone is expected to reopen in mid-January.
MetroNews reports, the new service area opened last weekend but state officials held an opening ceremony on Monday. Governor Jim Justice (R), soon to be a member of the US Senate, was in attendance. He called the facility a much-needed “marketing tool” in which state residents can take pride.
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Service Plazas West Virginia West Virginia Parkways Authority (West Virginia Turnpike)US Government Agencies Will Close For Carter State Funeral
All US government executive departments and agencies, excepting those that must remain open for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need, will be closed next Thursday, January 9, pursuant to a proclamation issued by President Biden. The state funeral for former president Jimmy Carter will be conducted on that day, and the closing is a mark of respect for Mr. Carter’s life and service to the nation.
US Department of Transportation (USDOT) US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration US National Transportation Safety Board US National Weather Service US Occupational Safety & Health Admin (OSHA) US Treasury Dep'tThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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