Christie says he wants to get input from the public and confer with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo before making a decision
Traffic enters the toll plaza of the Holland Tunnel in Jersey City in this file photo from 2008. Today, Gov. Chris Christie declined to rule out possible toll increases for bridges and tunnels operated by the Port Authority, an agency he has veto power over.Gov. Chris Christie today would not rule out a toll increase for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's bridges and tunnels, saying he would first listen to the public and confer with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo before making a decision.
"Gov. Cuomo and I want to do it in concert with each other to make sure that (a toll increase) has the power and authority of both governors who have supervision over the Port Authority," Christie said. "There are going to be public hearings next week. We're waiting to see the results of those, get some reaction, some formal reaction from the public."
A spokesman for Cuomo did not return calls tonight.
The two governors have veto power over all Port Authority actions.
On Friday, the agency announced a proposal to raise tolls by $4 for E-ZPass customers and $7 for cash-payers as early as next month at the Outerbridge Crossing, Bayonne, Goethals and George Washington bridges and at the Holland and Lincoln tunnels. That increase would be followed by another $2 hike in 2014.
The proposed new tolls for cars would range from $10 for E-ZPass users off-peak, to $15 for cash-payers during rush-hour, rising to $12 and $17 in three years.
Trucks would also face a steep toll increase, while PATH fares would go up $1 per trip, to $2.75, with monthly passings rising to $89 from $54.
Gov. Chris Christie speaks at Doyle Farm in Hillsborough earlier this month. Today, the governor declined to rule out possible toll increases for bridges and tunnels operated by the Port Authority, an agency he has veto power over.The Port Authority has said the nearly $1 billion in addition revenue resulting from the hike was needed to help pay for a 10-year, $33 billion capital plan that includes redevelopment of the World Trade Center and raising of the Bayonne Bridge.
Christie and Cuomo issued a joint statement after Friday’s announcement expressing "concern" over the proposal. But some skeptics suggested Christie must have had knowledge of the plan well ahead of time, and was waiting to intervene on behalf of commuters for political gain.
Today, Christie told reporters Port Authority Chairman David Samson and Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni — both Christie appointees — informed him of the proposal two days before it was announced.
The Port Authority has scheduled seven public hearings on the plan — all on Tuesday — in advance of a vote by the agency’s board of commissioners on Aug. 19.
Three 8 a.m. hearings will be held at the Port Authority Technical Center in Jersey City, the Port Ivory/Howland Hook terminal in Staten Island and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan.
The other four hearings will be at 6 p.m., at the George Washington Bridge administration building in Fort Lee, the Holland Tunnel administration building in Jersey City; the George Washington Bridge Bus Station in Manhattan and the Port Authority administration building at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens.
The Port Authority estimates vehicles will make 122 million crossings over its bridges and tunnels this year.
By Steve Strunsky and MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger
Previous coverage:
• How much did Gov. Chris Christie know about the Port Authority's proposed toll hikes?
• Govs. Christie, Cuomo won't accept Port Authority plan to raise bridge and tunnel tolls
• Port Authority plans $4 toll hike next month on bridges and tunnels
• Proposal to hike Port Authority fares, tolls gets mostly chilly reception
• Port Authority proposes steep fare hikes for toll crossings, PATH trains
• Audit finds Port Authority could have saved $22M yearly, service contracts lack oversight