While a London-style congestion charge is unpopular with voters, experts agree that a congestion pricing scheme for major arterial roads is the only way to solve the city's traffic problems.
"A city-wide tolling system that charges motorists for using main roads at the busiest times of day has been proposed as a radical solution to Sydney's traffic nightmare. Although politicians and motorists reject a London-style congestion tax, experts yesterday said variable tolling on arterial roads could be the only way to fix the city's gridlock.
The satellite technology that would enable it is around the corner, while peak-period tolling is already operating in several overseas cities to discourage drivers.
Peter Stopher, a professor of transport planning at the University of Sydney, said a city-wide charge would be more effective than a CBD congestion tax. 'What we would do is charge people according to how much they're driving, where and when,' said Professor Stopher, of the Institute of Transport Studies."
FULL STORY: Experts' solution to traffic tax: pay when it's busy
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
New Jersey’s second-largest city bans standalone data centers
Jersey City will continue to allow co-location facilities, such as those meant for research institutions that store their own data.
Amtrak not solely to blame for New Jersey commuter rail's unreliability, report finds
A new study from the Garden State Initiative found that NJ Transit’s budget grew 20% across a 4 year period, but reliability declined significantly over the same period.
EPA erases limits on planet-warming pollution from power plants
Under Monday’s plan, power plants would still have some limits on how much mercury, arsenic and other contaminants they can emit.
Phoenix announces new on-demand transit service, more frequent RAPID buses
Both new services will launch in October, and are part of Phoenix's Project Effective Access Solutions for Easing Congestion.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
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The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association