N.J., N.Y. governors to confer on port authority toll hike plan

N.J. Gov. Chris Christie said he hasn’t decided what to do about the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s request to raise tolls by 40 percent. The proposal calls for a $4 increase at the George Washington Bridge and the Holland and Lincoln tunnels.

 

Christie said Monday his first reaction to hearing about the plan was, “You’re kidding, right?” He said years of mismanagement at the Port Authority led to the request for higher tolls.

Christie says he and N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo could veto the request.

“There’s no doubt what’s paramount in our mind is the effect this will have on citizens in our state,” Christie said. “Both the commuters who will have to pay any kind of toll and the people in both our states who are working on Port Authority projects whose jobs might be lost if those projects were to stop.”

Christie said rejection of any toll increase could deprive the Port Authority of needed funds and lead to the layoff off of thousands of workers.

A vote on the plan is scheduled for Aug. 19.