The Case For Toll Roads

High-occupancy toll lanes work best on high-traffic roads. Without congestion, drivers have little incentive to pay the toll.

1 minute read

May 15, 2002, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Creation of both HOV and HOT lanes is much more acceptable if it is done by adding capacity to an existing road. Conversion of existing lanes reduces the overall capacity of the road, thereby increasing congestion on the remaining normal lanes. Yet the new HOV or HOT lanes are clearly less congested than the remaining normal lanes. So the peak-hour drivers still on normal lanes realize they have been penalized with greater delays to benefit people using the HOV or HOT lanes. This will enrage many drivers, who will vehemently protest to public officials, often causing speedy reversal of such conversions."

Thanks to Governing.com

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 in Governing

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