Congestion Pricing in Los Angeles?

The city of Los Angeles is looking for ways to close a $26.2 billion funding gap for its plan to complete 28 transportation projects by the 2028 Summer Olympics.

1 minute read

December 10, 2018, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Gold Line alongside 210 Freeway

Frederick Dennstedt / Flickr

"Charging tolls on Los Angeles freeways during times of highest use and taxing Uber and Lyft rides are two new sources of revenue being considered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority," reports Steve Scauzillo.

The very preliminary proposal for congestion pricing "would charge for use of all lanes on freeways entering inner city core areas of Los Angeles, such as the 101, 5, 10 and 60 freeways during rush hours, while keeping the freeways free during off-peak hours."

Scauzillo also repeats some of Washington's arguments in support of the idea, like the precedent for congestion as a congestion reduction tool in cities like London, Stockholm, Singapore, and Milan.

A separate article by Elijah Chiland details some of the reactions of Los Angeles political leaders to the notion of congestion pricing. Chiland also previewed the report before the public presentation.

Congestion pricing would raise $1.2 billion a year. A tax on transportation network companies, also under discussion, would raise between $25 million to $350 million a year. That leaves the city still scrambling to cover the rest of the funding gap to build all of the projects on the "Twenty-eight by 28" list.

Thursday, December 6, 2018 in Los Angeles Daily News

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