How To Ease Congestion: An Ambitious National Plan Proposed

"Traffic planners released a plan today that they say will guarantee commuters in eight large cities speedy drives or bus rides to work. Their vision of congestion-free lanes is familiar, but this time, the experts have an ambitious national plan and at least some influential allies.The planners propose to keep traffic flowing by charging tolls, an idea that has traditionally been as unpopular with drivers and politicians as it is beloved by economists and engineers. This proposal, which would use part of the toll revenue to pay for bus service on the lanes, is supported by some moderate Democrats, as well as by free-market Republicans, by some environmentalists and, perhaps most significantly, by some officials of the AAA, a powerful enemy of tolls in the past."