Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who is running for Governor in 2025, has proposed implementing reverse congestion pricing to generate funds for New Jersey’s struggling transit system. The plan would target drivers from New York entering New Jersey, mirroring New York City’s new congestion pricing model.
Fulop argued that NJ missed a huge opportunity to negotiate financial benefits from New York’s congestion pricing initiative, which charges vehicles entering Manhattan’s central business district. He criticized Governor Phil Murphy’s legal opposition to the program, suggesting it cost the state hundreds of millions in potential transit funding.
“We’re intertwined,” Fulop said. “New Jersey should have worked with New York on a regional solution to improve mass transit and reduce congestion for both states.”
The proposal includes installing toll gantries at key entry points such as the Outerbridge Crossing, Route 17, and Interstate 287. Revenue would be directed toward New Jersey Transit, which has faced widespread criticism for delays and cancellations, particularly this summer.
Fulop emphasized the need for a reliable transit system, stating, “New Jersey Transit is a terrible product. Until it’s improved, people won’t switch from cars to trains.”
While the specifics of Fulop’s plan remain undefined, it could include exemptions or credits similar to New York’s congestion pricing model. The proposal also raises questions about whether New Jersey residents would face additional tolls when returning home, as some New Yorkers do under the current system.
Gov. Murphy’s office has not commented on Fulop’s proposal, and the MTA declined to respond. New Jersey’s lawsuit against New York’s congestion pricing program remains unresolved.
Fulop’s congestion pricing pitch comes amid his broader campaign to position himself as a transit-focused, YIMBY leader ahead of New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial race.
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