Last night, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority held its one and only information session to address the proposed $10.7 billion highway expansion project that would widen parts of the Jersey Turnpike.

The info session was held in Jersey City and brought out several opponents of the project, including Jersey City's mayor Steve Fulop and several council members, along with residents and advocacy groups who say the health and environmental impacts of the expansion will be devastating.

And as Ted Goldberg reports, they're increasing their demands for a full environmental impact study before any work begins.

What they propose doesn't make sense to a rational person.

Jersey City mayor and candidate for governor Steve Fulop, lent his voice to this rally protesting a potential $10 billion turnpike project.

The Turnpike Authority maintains it needs to widen parts of this eight mile stretch to accommodate more travel within the state.

The ports are expanding.

Jersey City, Bayonne are thriving and growing, and this program will support that local and state economy in order to provide regional mobility.

And we honestly believe this is this is the right thing to do for the public, for the region.

And number one is.

We all agree safety is a priority.

It is the added beyond the safety that we are expressing our displeasure with.

The Turnpike Authority says the new project won't make pollution much worse in North Jersey.

People like Mayor Fulop aren't convinced that's true.

He says he's confused why the state would sue to block congestion pricing on environmental grounds, but allow this turnpike expansion.

And the number one issue that they cited in a lawsuit against New York was air pollution, increased traffic and the impact it would have on the communities.

And it begs the question that when you have roads and more cars projected to come through urban areas, diverse communities like Jersey City, why does the same standard not apply?

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who's also running for governor, wrote an op ed criticizing the project, saying the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's main interests are not on the safety or utility of the existing bridge, but on putting more vehicles on the road and generating more toll revenue.

Without regard for whether this is in the public interest.

People at the rally say the project would make life worse for people living in places adversely affected by pollution.

I'm tired of hearing people having to share the stuff of someone that they love or someone that they know that they have adverse health effects such as cancer, vegetarianism, asthma.

My son suffers from asthma.

When we travel or leave the tri state area, his symptoms noticeably improve.

There's clearly a problem here with our air quality.

No claims by the state can change what I've seen with my own two eyes.

It was a very, very vigorous environmental process where you've probably met with the Coast Guard in Army Corps for the past 2 to 3 years.

Not only are we adhering and meeting the Federal process and review process, we are also.

Similarly, we have met with engaged and satisfied the state process as well.

Before the Turnpike Authority hosted its third public information session on the project, protesters called for the Coast Guard to intervene and demand a more rigorous environmental impact statement.

The U.S. Coast Guard Commission needs to not just accept the environmental assessment of the New Jersey Turnpike.

It expect authority.

They need to look at the entire eight miles and insist on an environmental impact statement.

It's not as hot today as it has been.

But are we just going to continue to contribute to letting the world burn?

This project does nothing in 2020 for this project does nothing to help us meet the two degree, let alone the one and a half degree Celsius goals of the Paris Accord.

The Turnpike Authority brought in experts to answer questions from the public, but their presentation didn't get very far before they were shouted down.

Demands for a public comment period turned into the same protesters walking out, though they tell me they're not going anywhere and will continue protesting in Jersey City I'm Ted Goldberg.

NJ Spotlight News.