New Jersey mayor floats ‘reverse congestion pricing’ toll in response to NYC’s controversial toll

A New Jersey The mayor is proposing the idea of ​​a reverse congestion pricing after New York City introduced its controversial congestion pricing last week.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who is also running for governor of the Garden State, floated the idea Fox 5 New York.

“New Jersey has the same opportunity to push the buttons that New York pushes against us,” Fulop told the outlet. “We could do that to them, but the goal is to come to the table to find a reasonable solution.”

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Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop speaks during a rally organized by the 32BJ SEIU union in support of a strike by Newark Airport workers in Newark on March 31, 2016. (Getty Images)

The mayor said he believes reverse congestion pricing is the appropriate response New York City new toll that will impose fees on vehicles entering busy parts of Manhattan to encourage people to take the subway.

“There are a lot of crossings between Staten Island, New York, Bergen County, Hudson County and New Jersey,” Fulop said. “There are many ways to get the same impact fee that New York charges New Jersey.”

Fulop said he believes the money raised through reverse congestion pricing can fund New Jersey Mass transit systemwhich has suffered from delays and cancellations.

Congestion toll sign readers are installed over Lexington Avenue in New York City on December 18, 2023. (Getty Images)

“In my opinion, New Jersey Transit is a terrible product that should be invested in more. And unless you have a reliable transportation system in New Jersey, you can’t in good conscience assume that people are going to take the trains,” Fulop said. “But this was an opportunity to put hundreds of millions of dollars into New Jersey Transit, and I think the governor just took a very loose political approach.”

New Jersey originally had a chance to receive hundreds of millions of dollars from New York City’s new tolls, but that fell through due to litigation.

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Trolley devices have been installed on the streets of New York City for the controversial congestion pricing plan. (Getty Images)

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The details of Fulop’s proposal have not yet been finalized, but he said gantries or toll booths could be located outside tunnels and bridges in New Jersey.

He said that, similar to congestion pricing, there may be exceptions or overage credits.

It’s unclear whether New Jersey residents would have to pay the toll to re-enter their home state, as some New Yorkers do for congestion pricing.