The Port Authority – and New Jerseyans using the bridges, tunnels and PATH — could easily become Christie’s piggy bank — one that he breaks into to cover project costs that the state should finance.

And when the Port Authority needs more money for its Manhattan real estate development projects or Christie’s local road repairs, it simply hits up New Jersey commuters. So the financial burden of maintaining the state’s roads falls on the toll payers rather than the taxpayers.

When commenting on the Port Authority hikes Christie said that if the cables on the GWB needed to be replaced somebody had to pay for them and it only made sense to have those who use the bridge pony up.

He’s right. But why should those same drivers pay for the Pulaski Skyway or the rebuilding of at Ground zero?

Josh McMahon is a former member of The Star-Ledger’s editorial board.

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