A Surprising Ally for Highway Tolling in Portland

Environmentalists find an ally in Portland's port for a plan to toll highways coming into the city.

1 minute read

August 2, 2018, 10:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


Port of Portland

Mathias Berlin / Shutterstock

The Port of Portland is supporting a call for congestion pricing in the city. The port sees a plan that would reduce congestion as a way to help it's customers get their products on the road more quickly.

Environmentalists have long supported tolling on highways to reduce congestion and discourage driving and sprawl. By making it more expensive to come into the city on the highway, congestion pricing incentivizes the use of public transit, carpooling and dense development. While these proposals often come in from environmental advocates, the support of a large industry in the port of Portland could strengthen the cause.

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