Op-Ed: Jersey City Transit for Jersey City Residents
Originally Published — https://jcitytimes.com/op-ed-jersey-city-transit-for-jersey-city-residents/
Congestion pricing is here, and early data shows Holland Tunnel usage plummeting and average commute times across the Tunnel dropping by 63%. The new toll is a burden on Jersey City residents, but it also presents an opportunity to revamp our transit infrastructure to serve our community: not just commuters from the suburbs to Manhattan, but all of the people who call our city home.
I am running for Mayor because I believe our growing city deserves a new vision for our infrastructure that includes more investment in local roads, and mass transit. I also believe we deserve a share of congestion pricing’s revenue and that we must demand a seat at the table when it comes to all transit decisions in our community . Here’s what I will do:
Oppose the I-78 expansion. There has never been a need to expand I-78. NJDOT’s own research shows that I-78 hasn’t needed repairs for forty years and that low-cost alternatives would better maintain the road. Advocates and grassroots organizations have worked tirelessly against the “turnpike trap,” a proposal that would have wasted billions on an unnecessary widening of the I-78’s approach to the Holland Tunnel. With traffic to Manhattan decreasing further, there is now even less reason to expand I-78. The project would cost billions, take twenty years to complete, and increase noise and pollution. Instead of building more lanes over our heads, our tax and toll money should be invested in Jersey City’s infrastructure of tomorrow, including local roads, bus and light rail, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
Fix our inadequate public transit system. We are paying steeper and steeper tolls to drive to Manhattan while getting nothing in return. PATH and NJ Transit are in worse shape than New York City’s subway, suffering from poor performance, overcrowding, and safety concerns. As Mayor, I will fight for our tolls, fares, and taxes to be reinvested in our local public transit to improve reliability, accessibility, and efficiency. We must also use these resources to keep transit fares affordable for our residents.
Demand a seat at the table. In Trenton and Albany, leaders are making decisions about the transit that flows through Jersey City without giving Jersey City a seat at the table. But our city is growing as fast as Manhattan. We are not just a pass-through on the daily commute––we’re one of America’s best cities to live, work, and raise a family. Decisions about our roads and public transit need to serve us. This includes lobbying for a dedicated representative on the Port Authority who represents Jersey City’s interests.
Lobby for our share of congestion pricing revenue and consider reverse pricing. Leaders in New York City have put New Jersey commuters at a disadvantage, without compensating us for the damage or equitably distributing the proceeds. Billions of dollars stand to be funneled into the New York City subway without a cent reaching PATH and NJ Transit’s coffers. This is not just unfair — it’s unacceptable. As Mayor, I will lobby hard to ensure that a portion of congestion pricing revenue compensates New Jersey for the consequences suffered by our commuters and contributes to the revitalization of our public transit.
Moreover, I believe the Jersey City residents who commute to Manhattan shouldn’t bear the brunt of congestion pricing alone, with their peers heading the other way free of burden. A reverse congestion pricing system, applying tolls on those heading through Holland Tunnel in the opposite direction, would create a more equitable distribution of tolls for everyone traveling back and forth between Jersey City and New York City.
Expand the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is a highly successful component of our regional public transit infrastructure, but it doesn’t reach nearly far enough. Expanding the Light Rail would create a highly affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly alternative to driving for many residents of currently underserved parts of Jersey City. As Mayor, I will advocate for prioritizing extensions while ensuring that the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail remains affordable to all. I will push for state and federal funding to support such a critical expansion.
We deserve less traffic, safer roads, better public transit, and more. As Jersey City’s next mayor, I will fight for a modern, efficient, and equitable transportation system that promotes Jersey City’s growth and sustainability.
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Mussab Ali is the former JC BOE President, education non-profit founder, and cancer survivor. The son of immigrants, Mussab was raised and educated in Jersey City. A graduate of McNair, Rutgers, Tsinghua, and Harvard Law, Mussab founded the Ali Leadership Institute to equip activists, organizers, and community leaders with the necessary skills for effective civic participation at the local level.
