NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop feels that a congestion pricing fee for Manhattan is not only unfair for New Jersey drivers, but it’s unproductive.
He understands that the MTA needs money, but believes everyone else does as well, “New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut all have issues as well. In New Jersey we have PATH issues, New Jersey Transit issues and I think it's a regional problem and I think you need a regional solution.”
Some say until NJ Transit improves, it isn’t a viable option.
Lamecca Saunders drives into the city every day, but when asked if she could take the train instead, she told WCBS 880, “I don't want to. It's horrible service. I'll never get where I'm going on time.”
Following Mayor Fulop’s suggestion Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged he had not discussed congestion pricing with regional leaders in the Tri-State area.
“I understand he has to look out for his own constituents but I would argue that if we didn't fix our subways, people in Jersey would be hurt too because the entire economy depends on our subways and its jobs that a lot of them depend on also. So look, Jersey will make its own decisions, I’m convinced this was the right decision for the city, but also the whole region,” de Blasio said.
In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey's Gov. Phil Murphy also suggested a slice of the funding, now designated for the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, should go to PATH and NJ Transit.