Chris Bradford over at Austin Contrarian has been making some solid points in favor of congestion pricing. (here, here, here and here) Chris’s core argument in favor of congestion tolling is that:
congestion pricing does more than relieve congestion. Congestion pricing tells us when a road needs more capacity. Additional capacity costs money, and drivers are [...]
Some other things to ponder for the next time you are sitting on a congested highway…
When I talk to people about tolling roads, most people immediately reject the idea entirely. I like to ask them to think about it next time they are in a traffic jam. Hey, if you sit in traffic, you probably [...]
Apparently, IBM helped implement a congestion pricing solution in Stockholm, Sweden. Could commercials like this help break down aversion to market-based solutions?
[hat tip: The Overhead Wire]
Congestion pricing schemes, touted as environmentally-responsible at the time of $4 gas, were defeated in New York City last Spring. However, as the market turmoil threatens to wreak havoc on tax revenues, fiscal necessity has lured New York State and New York City politicians to re-examine the political viability of charging tolls to drivers [...]
I tend to agree that there is some hypocrisy in the conservative/libertarian world when it comes to transportation, which is part of the reason I started this blog. A more free-market transporation system would certainly lead to a more urban land use pattern; something between pre-auto, transit-reliant density and current auto-reliant sprawling suburbs. Regardless, market-based [...]
Congestion Pricing Poll:
Opinion Polls & Market Research
Congestion pricing links:
portfolio.com: Why Congestion Pricing Died
wsj poll suggests “clearway”, “freeflow”, and others: Why Not ‘FreeFlow’? A Buzzwatch Makeover for NYC’s Failed Traffic Plan
Trendczar: Congested Thinking
knowledgeproblem.com: EZ-Zone? FreeFlow? Would congestion pricing by another name, smell sweeter?
streetsblog
Take the poll.
Socialized transportation and government land planning of the past generations have put an unintended burden on future generations.
Trendczar, Jonathan Miller explains how the lifestyle of sprawl is becoming less economical for individuals and government:
Ending the Free Ride