New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill is signaling a combative stance toward New York’s congestion pricing plan, floating a proposal to hit New York drivers with retaliatory tolls just as the region prepares for the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to reporters, Sherrill suggested that the Garden State could implement its own version of congestion fees specifically targeting out-of-state visitors heading to MetLife Stadium.
The remarks mark a sharp escalation in the cross-Hudson feud over a $9 daily fee set to be imposed on drivers entering lower Manhattan, a plan Sherrill has repeatedly characterized as a “punch in the face” to New Jersey families.
”Possibly, people coming into our state from New York will be paying congestion fee tolls so they can go enjoy the game,” Sherrill said, referring to the high-profile FIFA matches slated for East Rutherford.
The Governor-elect has long argued that New York’s plan unfairly utilizes New Jersey’s workforce as a “meal ticket” to bail out the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) while providing no reciprocal investment in NJ Transit.
By targeting the World Cup—an event expected to draw millions of international and regional visitors—Sherrill is positioning the potential tolls as a strategic defense of New Jersey’s infrastructure and fiscal sovereignty.
The proposal comes as New York officials, including Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, have touted the city’s role in “hosting” the global tournament. Sherrill was quick to push back on that framing, noting that while the cultural spotlight may be shared, the physical matches take place on the New Jersey side of the river.
“With all due respect to the Mayor-elect, maybe he doesn’t know where the games are going to be played, because that’s going to be in New Jersey,” Sherrill quipped.
While the “reverse congestion pricing” idea has gained traction among New Jersey commuters tired of rising transit costs, it remains unclear if Sherrill has the unilateral authority to enact such fees without legislative approval or federal intervention. Critics and legal experts warn that retaliatory tolls could face significant hurdles under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, which restricts states from placing undue burdens on interstate travel.
However, for a Governor-elect who has made lowering costs and fighting for New Jersey’s fair share a centerpiece of her platform, the threat serves as an opening salvo ahead of her first term in Trenton.