Comments on: L.A.’s “Congestion Pricing” Gaining National Attention

By: Dudley Horscroft

Dudley Horscroft — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:07:14 +0000

Congestion pricing is very desirable where congestion exists. People are already familiar with it in other fields – usually known as peak fares – as on airlines, shipping, sometimes even restaurants.

It has two effects (1) it raises revenue which can be spent in some desirable way (such as widening roads or providing light rail) and (2)perhaps more important, it can shift demand. Peak hour fares on railways and light rail systems induce those who can shift with minimal disadvantage to shift to an earlier or later travel time. They benefit usually by travelling in comfort, compared to travelling in sardine conditions. Those who pay, also benefit in the reduced overcrowding, which presumably outweighs the extra cost of peak hour travel.

So it is with roads. A substantial premium on main highways in the peak period would raise revenue for beneficial projects, such as completing the Expo Line and the “missing link” between Blue and Gold Lines, paid for by those who insist on travelling in the peak, while those who find the charge too much could travel earlier, take an alternative route, or travel by subway or light rail where these alternatives exist.

By: Damien Newton

Damien Newton — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:09:52 +0000

To be fair, Metro is getting a big chunk of federal funds to try out congestion pricing, most of which is going into bus and busway improvements in the corridors effected by the program.

I’m not a big fan of the way they’re trying congestion pricing, but they are getting nearly a quarter billion dollars to improve transit along the two highways and they deserve some credit for that.

By: David Galvan

David Galvan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:05:21 +0000

Congestion pricing and toll roads will not solve the problem all by themselves, but they are a necessary component of efforts to reduce traffic congestion, which should include mass-transit expansion.

By: PaulCJr

PaulCJr — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:03:16 +0000

It is true that some people wanting to avoid the toll will take surface streets to their final destination. But the street gridlock that might be the result of this tolling already exist in many parts of the city and the suburbs. The toll doesn’t have to be high in my opinion. Just charging drivers 10 cents to get on the freeway will provide a lot of revenue.

By: bikinginla

bikinginla — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:10:36 +0000

I’m slowly coming around to the idea of congestion pricing. Something has to be done to reduce L.A.’s traffic load. But just moving vehicles off highways onto overcrowded streets will only guarantee gridlock throughout the city.

However, if all the money raised by congestion pricing were required to go towards funding alternative transit — including improved cycling infrastructure — it might actually encourage people to leave their cars at home.