New Jersey's mayor is proposing the idea of reverse congestion pricing, after New York City introduced controversial congestion pricing last week.
The idea was reportedly originated by Jersey City Mayor Stephen Fulop, who is also running for governor in the Garden State. fox 5 new york.
“New Jersey has an opportunity to push the same buttons that New York is pushing on us,” Fulop told the outlet. “We can do that to them, but the goal is to get to the table to get a reasonable solution.”
The mayor said he believes reverse congestion pricing is an appropriate response to New York City's new toll system that charges vehicles entering downtown Manhattan as a way to encourage people to use the subways. .
“There are a lot of intersections between Staten Island, New York, Bergen County and Hudson County that lead into New Jersey,” Fulop said. “There are many opportunities for New York to impose the same type of impact fees that New Jersey is imposing.”
Fulop said he believes the money raised from reverse congestion pricing should fund New Jersey's mass transit system, which has been plagued by delays and cancellations.
“In my opinion, New Jersey Transit is a terrible product and should be invested in more. Until we have a reliable transit system in New Jersey, we cannot responsibly expect people to ride the trains,” Flop said. he said. Said. “But this was an opportunity to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for New Jersey Transit. I think the governor just took a very easy political approach.”
There was initially the possibility that New Jersey would receive hundreds of millions of dollars from New York City's new tolls, but that deal fell apart amid litigation.
Details of Mr. Fulop's proposal have not yet been finalized, but he said gantries and toll plazas could be installed outside New Jersey's tunnels and bridges.
He said there could be a cross-section of waivers and credits, similar to congestion pricing.
It's unclear whether New Jersey residents will have to pay tolls to re-enter their home state, as some New Yorkers do with congestion fees.
