Tolls Over Taxes for Transportation Funding

Residents in the D.C. area overwhelmingly favor tolls to fund highway construction and ease congestion.

1 minute read

February 17, 2005, 6:00 AM PST

By Peter Buryk


A recent survery conducted by the Washington Post indicates that area drivers prefer tolls over taxes to fund new roads by 2 to 1. This attitude is in keeping with the philosophy of regional transporation planners who favor a "pay-as-you-go" system of funding. "There are no major projects being talked about that aren't envisioning some type of tolling," said Virginia Transportation Commissioner Philip A. Shucet. The trend towards road tolling appears to be catching on nationwide. "A majority of states, if not 90 percent of them, are all taking a hard look at tolls," said Jack Finn, senior vice president of HNTB, a planning and construction firm. "I think primarily it's a funding issue, because the need for highways continues to grow, yet our funding for them has not." Critics of tolling say that the system unfairly priced out the poor, but supporters firmly believe that the conception is the best way to deal with congestion.

Thanks to Peter Buryk

Wednesday, February 16, 2005 in The Washington Post

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

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

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.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

2 hours ago - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

3 hours ago - The Sacramento Bee