Congestion Pricing Study Taking Shape in Los Angeles

New York City is the furthest along with a congestion pricing scheme, but San Francisco and Los Angeles are catching up in California.

2 minute read

February 18, 2021, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Expo Line

JulieAndSteve / Flickr

According to an article by Steve Hymon, the big-ticket item of the study is an initial examination congestion pricing for the region. Metro is conducting a series of public hearings this month to gather feedbacks on four potential congestion pricing concepts. In each case, Hymon says Metro the term "managing traffic" is used to describe the concept of congestion pricing.   

  1. The Santa Monica Mountains Corridor concept would toll some combination of the freeways and roads that cross the Santa Monica Mountains between Interstate 405 and Interstate 5.
  2. The Downtown L.A. Freeway Corridor concept would apply to the busy freeways leading into and away from Downtown.
  3. The Downtown L.A. Cordon would work more like the congestion pricing scheme proposed in Manhattan, tolling cars that entire the geographic area of Downtown Los Angeles as bound by the 110, 10, 101, and 5 freeways. "Additional transportation improvements would be explored for this area as part of the study," according to Hymon.
  4. The I-10 Corridor concept would apply on the I-10 freeway between Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica. "To mitigate potential spillover traffic, the I-10 and parallel arterials will be included in the analysis," similar to the Santa Monica Mountain Corridor concept.

The article provides a through description of how congestion pricing works as well as how Metro would potentially supplement the region's transportation options to provide alternatives to car travel if and when a congestion pricing concept is implemented.

Previous Planetizen coverage of the congestion pricing idea in Los Angeles.

Planetizen coverage of other U.S. cities exploring congestion pricing.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021 in The Source

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Color-coded map of labor & delivery departments and losses in United States.

The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace

In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.

June 15 - Maine Morning Star

Street scene in Kathmandu, Nepal with yellow minibuses and other traffic.

The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs

Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.

June 15 - Fast Company

Bike lane in Washington D.C. protected by low concrete barriers.

DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint

Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.

June 15 - The Washington Post