Summary:
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop proposes 'reverse congestion pricing' to toll vehicles entering New Jersey from New York.
The revenue generated would fund improvements to New Jersey's struggling mass transit system.
Fulop suggests gantries or toll sites could be placed outside tunnels and bridges.
The proposal's details, including potential exemptions and whether New Jersey residents would be affected, remain unclear.
A prior opportunity for New Jersey to receive funds from New York's congestion pricing was lost due to litigation.
Jersey City Mayor's Bold Proposal: Reverse Congestion Pricing
The controversial congestion pricing toll is now in effect in Manhattan, but Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who is also running for New Jersey governor, has a counter-proposal: reverse congestion pricing. This means charging drivers entering New Jersey from New York.
Fulop's Argument
Fulop argues that New Jersey has the same right to impose fees on vehicles entering the state from New York as New York has done to those entering Manhattan. He envisions this revenue funding much-needed improvements to New Jersey's troubled mass transit system, which is plagued by delays and cancellations.
"New Jersey has the same opportunity to push the buttons that New York is pushing against us. We could do that to them, but the goal is to get to a table to have a reasonable solution." - Mayor Steven Fulop
He points out that there are numerous crossings between New York and New Jersey, offering ample opportunities for implementing such a system. The details haven't been fully worked out yet, but Fulop suggests gantries or toll sites positioned outside tunnels and bridges in New Jersey, potentially with exemptions or crossing credits.
The Unanswered Questions
It remains unclear whether New Jersey residents would face tolls to re-enter their home state, similar to the congestion pricing in New York City. The MTA and transit advocacy groups declined to comment, and Governor Murphy's office has yet to respond to inquiries.
Missed Opportunity?
There was a previous opportunity for New Jersey to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from New York's congestion pricing, but it was lost amid litigation.
A Necessary Investment?
Mayor Fulop emphasizes the need for improved public transit in New Jersey, stating:
"My view is that New Jersey Transit is a terrible product, and it should be invested in more...But this was an opportunity to get hundreds of millions of dollars into New Jersey Transit, and I think the governor just took a very easy political approach."
This bold proposal certainly adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate around congestion pricing and its potential impact on regional transportation.
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