Dear Editor:
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber announced that Congestion Price Tolling should begin by December 2023. In coming months, there will be another round of public hearings prior to implementation. NJ residents will be paying a portion of revenues generated by these new fees. The MTA estimates it will generate $1 billion annually. These revenues will be used to leverage another $2 billion annually via bonding. This is supposed to raise $15 billion that which will help pay for the MTA $51 billion 2020 – 2025 Five Year Capital Plan. Both NJ Transit and the Port Authority have similar multi year Capital Plans. New Jersey residents should consider asking for a fair share of revenues generated by these new tolls that they will be paying.
Some of these dollars could go toward the NJ share for the $12 billion Gateway Tunnel (two new tunnels plus rehab of existing tunnels) or full build $33 billion version, $10 billion Port Authority 42nd Street Bus Terminal, NJ Transit and PATH capital programs or other transportation improvements that would benefit NJ residents After all, fair is fair.
Larry Penner
(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office)
