Four cities could charge tolls for drivers to enter congested parts of their cities if an assembly bill introduced by Richard Bloom last month becomes law.

Legislation introduced by Assemblymember Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica would allow two northern and two southern California cities to pursue cordon area congestion pricing demonstration pilot projects, somewhat similar to the Fix NYC plan under consideration by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y), which would charge drivers an $11.52 toll to drive below 60th Street in Manhattan.
"The concept has been pitched for San Francisco before and has often met fiery opposition," writes the San Francisco Examiner's transportation reporter, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, on March 11. "But at least one city lawmaker said that if the state bill passes, he will introduce legislation implementing it in The City."
Planetizen dates efforts by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority to implement city congestion pricing back to at least November 2010. The authority's Mobility, Access and Pricing Study ran into opposition from the city's southern neighbor, San Mateo County, which threatened a "border toll war," and we haven't heard anything since.
However, it appears that Bloom's legislation, AB 3059: Congestion pricing demonstration pilot projects, co-authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), originates from the 100 Hours Campaign, a public engagement effort by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) to reduce traffic congestion in Los Angeles. One of the proposed strategies, according to a post last September, a "decongestion fee system:"
By charging a fee to enter and use the streets within a highly-congested area at peak periods, drivers would be incentivized to make more informed travel choices and explore mobility alternatives.
In fact, the 100 Hours plan uses the term, "Go Zones" (see a supportive op-ed by Natural Resources Defense Council), which also appears in Bloom's legislation, notes Rodriguez:
The bill would remove legal barriers at the state level and allow local jurisdictions to pass their own congestion pricing pilot programs, called “Go Zones"
Rodriguez adds that San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin is ready to sponsor an ordinance to authorize a Go Zone.
“I’ve long been a proponent of congestion pricing as a way to change driving behavior and reduce traffic,” said Peskin, who also serves as board chair on the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.
Transportation advocates, like the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, expressed support for such a plan, but business groups, like the Union Square Business Improvement District, were hesitant. However, AB 3059 first needs to pass the legislature and be signed by Gov. Jerry Brown before it gets to the municipal level. Its first committee hearing is scheduled for March 19.
Hat tip to John Holtzclaw and Matt Williams.
FULL STORY: Congestion pricing revival: State bill would allow SF to charge cars for downtown entry

The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.

Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.

Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.

Tacoma Developing New Housing Policy
The city’s Home in Tacoma plan is designed to address the region’s growth and rising housing prices, but faces local backlash over density and affordability concerns.

Green Alleys: A New Paradigm for Stormwater Management
Rather than shuttling stormwater away from the city and into the ocean as quickly as possible, Los Angeles is now—slowly—moving toward a ‘city-as-sponge’ approach that would capture and reclaim more water to recharge crucial reservoirs.

Orange County Project Could Go Forward Under ‘Builder’s Remedy’
The nation’s largest home builder could receive approval for a 530-unit development under an obscure state law as the city of La Habra’s zoning laws hang in limbo after the state rejected its proposed housing plan.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.