N.J. Wants Seat on NYC Congestion Panel

The New Jersey Senate wants a representative from that state to sit on New York City’s 17-member congestion-pricing commission, the New Jersey Star-Ledger reported.

State Senate President Richard Codey said 250,000 New Jersey commuters a day would be affected if the city approves a plan for fees on cars and trucks in central Manhattan, the paper reported on its Web site.

The city’s plan, still to be finalized, would set fees of $8 on cars and $21 on trucks below 86th Street in Manhattan from 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Under the proposal, the fee for New Jersey drivers who use E-ZPass would be offset by $5 tolls paid at bridges and tunnels, so the fee would effectively be $3, the Star-Ledger said.

The commission, which will hold public hearings, has until Jan. 31 to recommend a plan, which could include the congestion-fee proposal backed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.