Green Jersey

Congestion pricing deadline today

Today is the deadline for New York state legislators to decide about congestion pricing, or New York misses out on $354 million of federal funding for mass transit improvements.

Over the weekend, the Bergen Record reported that Sen. Robert Menendez wrote to the federal Highway Administration asking that New York be denied funding unless the plan is made fair for New Jersey. Congestion pricing would strain New Jersey’s mass transit system, he argues, but New York would receive money for improvements.

As it stands, New Jersey drivers would pay $3-$4 more to enter Manhattan below 60th Street than people who enter  from other parts of New York (unless the Port Authority chips in $1 billion. But Gov. Corzine has said he would oppose efforts to put Port Authority funds toward the plan).

The Record also had Fort Lee mayor Mark Sokolich worrying congestion pricing would increase traffic, and pollution, in his town. From the Associated Press:

Mayor Mark Sokolich told The Record of Bergen County that New York will collect a check and his Bergen County town will collect “everybody’s gas fumes.”