NJ Rep. Josh Gottheimer calls on NY Gov. Kathy Hochul to freeze congestion pricing until NJ Transit strike is over
Share this @internewscast.com

New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer urged New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to halt the city’s contentious congestion pricing plan amid the ongoing NJ Transit strike that is causing significant disruptions for commuters, he stated on Friday.

“I am calling on Gov. Hochul to pause the congestion fees for those who now have to drive into the city and, naturally, address our tolls in New Jersey because I’ve received numerous complaints from individuals noting an increase in their costs,” the Democratic congressman explained during a press call.

“We need to give them some relief until this is over,” he said, adding the tax should be scrapped until trains are running again.


strikers
NJ Transit engineers went on strike, halting train service to thousands of commuters. Getty Images

He further insisted on full refunds of tolls, encompassing charges from the Port Authority, E-Z Pass, and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, for New Jersey commuters who possess a NJ Transit monthly unlimited trips pass.

NJ Transit failed to reach a contract agreement with locomotive engineers Wednesday, triggering the first major transit strike to hit the Garden State in more than 40 years.

The strike was a travel nightmare Friday for the roughly 70,000 riders who go into Manhattan daily, as some train stations sat eerily empty. Up to 350,000 commuters statewide may have also been left stranded by the halted service.

Gottheimer, who last year called Hochul’s revived congestion pricing plan “insane,” said the strike has also put local businesses and commuters in “a tough spot.”


Gov. Hochul
Gov. Hochul’s controversial congestion pricing plan charges a $9 toll for vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours. Lev Radin/ZUMA / SplashNews.com

“We can’t afford to have our great transit system frozen,” he said, urging both sides to stick out negotiations. “Grab that pot of coffee and stay at the table.”

Gottheimer, a moderate representing the bedroom communities that border the Jersey side of the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge, added that, “Congress should step in” if the parties can’t work it out on their own.

Hochul’s congestion pricing plan charges a $9 toll for vehicles entering Manhattan south of 60th Street during peak hours, generating tens of millions of dollars in monthly revenue.

“Representative Gottheimer should focus on helping to resolve the dispute with New Jersey’s dedicated transit workers instead of looking to New York for a bailout,” a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul wrote to The Post in a statement Friday.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
'Dr. Antifa' fled US after doxxing, but infamous handbook promotes tactic and violence against 'Far Right'

Controversial ‘Dr. Antifa’ Escapes USA Amid Backlash Over Handbook Encouraging Tactics Against Far-Right

Dr. Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor colloquially known as “Dr. Antifa,”…
JD Vance Challenges Dems to Denounce Mamdani Appearing With 1993 WTC Bombing 'Unindicted Co-Conspirator'

JD Vance Urges Democrats to Condemn Mamdani for Association with Controversial 1993 WTC Bombing Figure

As previously noted, Vice President JD Vance took the stage at Camp…
Illinois State University teacher's assistant flips Turning Point USA table, tears down flyers: 'Jesus did it'

Illinois State University TA Sparks Controversy by Dismantling Turning Point USA Display: ‘Inspired by Jesus

An Illinois State University teaching assistant found himself in legal trouble after…
M.C.I. Foods recalls 91,585 pounds of burritos for Listeria risk

Urgent Recall: M.C.I. Foods Pulls 91,585 Pounds of Burritos Due to Listeria Contamination Risk

The recall affects three distinct brands: El Mas Fino, Los Cabos, and…
Halloween 2025: Mariano's shares spooky Halloween recipes to help you become the ghostest with the mostest

Spooktacular Halloween 2025: Mariano’s Unveils Creative Recipes to Elevate Your Festive Feast

CHICAGO (WLS) — The countdown to Halloween is on, with less than…

Remembering Sam Rivers: Limp Bizkit Bassist’s Impactful Legacy Lives On at 48

Sam Rivers, the bassist and a founding member of the iconic band…

Felony Charge Against California Labor Leader for Immigration Protest Downgraded

In Los Angeles, the head of a Southern California labor union, arrested…
Louvre museum closed after robbery, French official says

Shocking Heist Forces Louvre Museum Closure: French Authorities Investigate

In an audacious heist, thieves infiltrated the Louvre museum in Paris, making…
Ashton Kutcher says his looks hurt his acting career

Ashton Kutcher Reveals How His Appearance Impacted His Acting Journey

Ashton Kutcher has confessed that his striking appearance may have sometimes been…
'No Kings' protest in St. Augustine

St. Augustine’s ‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Attention: Citizens Rally for Equality and Justice

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Protesters gathered in St. Augustine on Saturday as…
Thieves steal several pieces of French Crown Jewels collection inside the infamous Louvre in Paris, France

Heist at the Louvre: French Crown Jewels Stolen in Bold Theft

In a daring heist that unfolded in mere minutes, thieves targeted the…
FBI investigates hunting stand with sight line to Trump's Air Force One exit area at Palm Beach airport

FBI Probes Suspicious Hunting Stand Overlooking Trump’s Air Force One Path at Palm Beach Airport

EXCLUSIVE: In a recent security sweep, the U.S. Secret Service identified a…