Comments on: Legislator Wants New Jersey Rep on Pricing Panel

By: Christine Berthet

Christine Berthet — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:11:54 +0000

For one who lives in Hell’s Kitchen, One of the key gateways to New Jersey, I agree that New Jersey must be at the table. They are the only group of car commuters that is actually increasing since 2000. Lets not mention the SUVs…
But you must pay to play : Since everyone at the table will pony up about $ 250 millions,(NYstate adn City) I am glad to give them a seat for the same investment in public transportation . In fact Connecticut adn its hordes of Hedge fund managers should also be at the table and since they are that rich , they could pony up more than $ 250 millions…

By: gecko

gecko — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:49:32 +0000

We’ll need lots of help to go truly green and all should be welcome.

Congestion pricing just gets the ball rolling and should happen as soon as possible. Most likely there’s not an awful lot to discuss and there is definitely not a lot of time.

PlaNYC should have happened 30 years ago. Whatever mistakes we make will be miniscule compared to the ongoing one of inaction in seriously dealing with the climate change crisis.

This place can be the first urban green Mecca if people come and pitch in like they did after 9/11. It won’t happen by committee!

By: alex

alex — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:27:57 +0000

The comments to this post do bring up the interesting point that NJTransit fares have increased by 30%-40% (perhaps more?) over the past 5 years, while Turnpike and other road tolls have been near stagnant.

By: Susan Donovan

Susan Donovan — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 03:09:58 +0000

Sure you guys can be on our panel! Just start paying New York state and city taxes and we’ll be happy to invite you. This is silly IMHO.

By: Hilary

Hilary — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:50:14 +0000

So how did NJ exert its influence over the congestion pricing plan as proposed? The way it favors NJ commuters makes it a harder sell than any other factor.

By: Budrick

Budrick — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:37:21 +0000

Fares for NJTransit in urban North Jersey should be half of what they are, and should be a west-of-Hudson counterpart to east-of-the-Hudson outer-borough subway service (and Staten Island Railroad). Even in-city Long Island Railroad and Metro-North recently introduced $3.00 flat fares on weekends, a good model for NJTransit. But, ah well, will never happen, since NJ needs to keep gas taxes and Garden State Parkway tolls down. There is very little consideration in New Jersey for urban communities or mass transit, because the Democratic Party machine that runs the state is inherently suburban in character.

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:28:02 +0000

I don’t subscribe to the idea “if you live in NJ, work in NJ.” On that level I agree with Zupan that it is one region. In fact, Hudson County, NJ has more in common with most of NYC than Staten Island does – maybe we could arrange a trade?

Essex County is very well-served by train, and NJ has done a lot more to increase service (the Kearney and Montclair Connections) than anything done in NYC in the past thirty years. I’d love to see more people from NJ switch to the train; if only that new tunnel actually went someplace useful instead of duplicating the current one.

By: If you live in Nj, work in NJ

If you live in Nj, work in NJ — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:52:11 +0000

Mr. Codey is the former acting govenor of NJ, thice over. He never addressed congestion pricing in any city in the Garden State. Drive along route 21 in Newark and count the cars as they inch along McCarter Highway.

Mr Codey is just protecting the property values of his constiuents in upper Essex County. If the cost of commuting to the Big Apple increases, the pool of potential home buyers decreases, home values will not rise.

It is the Governor of NJ that keeps the Path fare lower then the subway fare.

Go to the Delaware river crossings, and compare the prices of commuting between NJ and PA and opposed to the cost of commuting between NY and NJ.

bottom line, the governor of NJ has no interest in cleaning up the air in NYC

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 23:50:43 +0000

If NJ didn’t have one of the lowest gas taxes in the nation, maybe they wouldn’t have so many car commuters.

By: t

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:43:44 +0000

If people in NJ are worried about congestion pricing, perhaps they could lower fares on NJ Transit to cushion the blow to commuters.

By: SUBWAYblogger

SUBWAYblogger — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:20:18 +0000

I think NJ needs to worry about their own damn roads. We got it covered over here.

By: mork

mork — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:20:10 +0000

New Jersey wins — their tolls go from $6 to $8 (which would have happened anyway) and they get to drive with less congestion.

(And I don’t think a judge will let them impose tolls only on cars with NY plates as revenge, so we can safely tell them to jump in a lake.)

By: drose

drose — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:07:30 +0000

Plus, Port Authority Executive Director Shorris is already on the Commission. As the man who runs the tunnels from New Jersey into the city, I think he will be well-placed to voice the concerns of that state.

Although Shorris was appointed by Spitzer both to the Commission as well as to run the Port Authority, he certainly had the blessing of Corzine before being hired for his paying position.

By: Gizler

Gizler — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:34:29 +0000

Sure, NJ wants a voice. A voice with which they can say “no” and impede the whole thing – why would we afford them that? By all means, consult with them and provide a means for them to dialogue. But give them a vote? Come on.