Jersey City mayor suggests ‘commuter tax’ on NYC residents in response to ‘congestion pricing’

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop floated a “commuter tax” on New York City residents as retaliation for the city’s “congestion pricing” fees.

The New York plan, approved by the state legislature at the end of March, will levy to-be-determined fees on drivers entering Manhattan south of 61^st Street, according to NJ.com. Much of the money collected will come from New Jersey residents entering the city to go to work.

{mosads}On Monday, Fulop told NJ.com that New Jersey “can do the same thing,” but said that he would prefer the states to work together on transportation plans rather than a “race to zero for both sides.”

“If NY does a commuter tax that only funds @MTA + exempts NYC residents from the tax – why should NJ not implement a commuter tax on NYC residents leaving NYC that exempts NJ residents so WE can fund our transit[?],” Fulop tweeted Monday. “Reality is any commuter tax should be a regional convo not just NY.”

If NY does a commuter tax that only funds @MTA + exempts NYC residents from the tax – why should NJ not implement a commuter tax on NYC residents leaving NYC that exempts NJ residents so WE can fund our transit. Reality is any commuter tax should be a regional convo not just NY

— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) April 1, 2019

Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has also called on New York to consider dedicating some of the revenue from the congestion pricing to New Jersey as well.

“The double-charging of George Washington Bridge drivers will ultimately shift more individuals onto constrained and aging NJ TRANSIT and PATH systems without the commensurate capital support to mitigate those impacts,” Murphy wrote in a letter to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). “I ask that you consider dedicating a portion of congestion pricing revenue to mitigate the burden created on these systems.”