Charging based on demand and for access is commonplace—except on roads.

"Riding the Metro at peak time, splurging on an additional fee to avoid the lunch line, receiving a discount for seeing a movie when few others choose to—we accept congestion pricing as a normal feature of everyday life," writes DJ Gribbin. So why, he wonders, is congestion pricing on roads consistently met with such resistance?
The time, economic, and environmental benefits of such strategies are clear, says Gribbin. And a variety of mechanisms exist for implementing congestion pricing, including managed lanes, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and cordon pricing.
But a lack of action at the state and federal levels means cities have to step up to put congestion pricing into place on roadways. Gribbin points to the cordon pricing coming to New York City in 2021, a plan expected to generate $1.1 billion a year for transit service improvements. Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles are also exploring congestion pricing options. "If all goes well, commuters in these three cities will have the ability to recover some of the 70 to 120 hours lost to congestion every year while reducing their environmental impact," he adds.
FULL STORY: Congestion pricing is all around us. Why is it taboo on our roads?

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
From the beginning, TNCs like Lyft and Uber touted shared rides as their key product. Now, Lyft is ending the practice.

Cool Walkability Planning
Shadeways (covered sidewalks) and pedways (enclosed, climate controlled walkways) can provide comfortable walkability in hot climates. The Cool Walkshed Index can help plan these facilities.

Congestion Pricing Could Be Coming to L.A.
The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.

As Business Districts Continue to Falter, Mixed-Use Neighborhoods Flourish
While office vacancies remain high and foot traffic sparse in many U.S. downtowns, areas with housing and businesses are more vibrant and desirable than ever.

Los Angeles County's 30x30 Strategy Earns National Recognition
L.A. County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) received a 2023 achievement award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).

Albuquerque Poised to Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units
Allowing ADU construction on parcels previously zoned exclusively for single-family detached housing is one component of the Housing Forward ABQ initiative, a larger effort to reform zoning practices in Albuquerque.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
City of Orange
City of Charlotte - Charlotte Area Transit
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
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