On the Issues: How NJ Governor Candidates Would Tackle Transportation

By NJ State House News Service reporters Victoria Gladstone, Paige Britt, Emma Ferschweiler, Madison Miller, and Abby Thomas.

Access to New York City jobs is essential for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans — but commuting is often expensive, unreliable, and frustrating. Transportation policy, particularly the future of NJ Transit and the controversial Manhattan congestion pricing plan, has become a central issue in the 2025 gubernatorial primary.

The recent NJ Transit strike, which briefly halted commuter rail service before a tentative agreement was reached, spotlighted the fragility of the state’s mass-transit system. Democratic candidates generally favor investment in NJ Transit and rethinking how it’s funded. Some Republicans suggest privatization or public-private partnerships instead..

Democrats

Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark, said he would expand the pool of corporations subject to the 2.5% transportation fee, lowering the threshold from $10 million to $1 million in taxable income. He supports negotiations with the MTA, Amtrak, and NJ Transit to improve rail safety and expand bus lines. While not fully opposed to congestion pricing, Baraka said it must be reworked to avoid unfairly burdening North Jersey communities with redirected traffic and pollution.

Steven Fulop, mayor of Jersey City, is the only Democrat in the race who supports congestion pricing, calling it “a good tool.” He proposes a “reverse congestion pricing” model that would charge New York drivers entering New Jersey, unless the MTA returns to the negotiating table and agrees to revenue sharing. “You need a regional transportation system,” Fulop said.

Mikie Sherrill, a U.S. Representative, calls congestion pricing “a huge tax on New Jersey commuters.” She says she would continue fighting the plan in court and seek a fairer solution through negotiations with New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

Sean Spiller, president of the New Jersey Education Association, supports investments in clean-energy buses and increased federal funding for rail infrastructure. He also suggests exploring funding models that account for the benefit New York City employers receive from NJ Transit.

Steve Sweeney, former Senate president, called NJ Transit “an embarrassment” and said the agency deserves more funding. He supports increasing its $3.2 billion budget and expanding service to fast-growing South Jersey. Sweeney would only end the corporate surtax if NJ Transit can stand on its own by 2028; otherwise, he says, the funding should be constitutionally dedicated. He opposes congestion pricing as “very unfair.”

Josh Gottheimer, a U.S. Representative, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. However, he has publicly opposed New York’s congestion pricing plan, calling it an unfair tax on New Jersey commuters. He supports expanding mass transit and was an early advocate for the Gateway Tunnel project, which he describes as key to relieving congestion and boosting the economy. Gottheimer has also raised concerns about data privacy in transportation systems, urging scrutiny of E-ZPass vendor contracts with ties to foreign governments.

Republicans

Jon Bramnick, a state senator, says he would repeal the 2.5% corporate surtax and work with the federal government to improve transit infrastructure. He praised former President Donald Trump for pausing congestion pricing, which he says would harm the state’s economy.

Mario Kranjac, former mayor of Englewood Cliffs, cited NJ Transit’s polycarbonate train windows as an example of government failure. He supports privatization or public-private partnerships for NJ Transit and criticized New York’s congestion pricing efforts as interference.

“The best thing for everyone is New York just stop messing with that,” Kranjac said.

Bill Spadea, a former radio host, supports privatizing NJ Transit and seeking federal funds to improve Amtrak infrastructure shared by NJ Transit. He opposes congestion pricing and says he would encourage New York-based companies to move to New Jersey.

Jack Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman, and Justin Barbera, a contractor, did not respond to requests for comment.