Road Pricing Shouldn't Stop at Ride Hailing Services

Joe Cortright believes that cities have a rare opportunity to change how we fund roads. "A system of road pricing would make a world of difference, reducing traffic in Manhattan, speeding buses, and easing the strain on the subways," Cortright writes for City Observatory.

Cortright argues against the notion that the road pricing should only be levied on ride-hailing services as a dangerous half-measure. "It strikes us that there’s little reason to single out ride-hailed vehicles for congestion pricing. Each incremental vehicle (taxi, Uber/Lyft, delivery truck or private car) makes essentially the same contribution to congestion as it travels city streets at the rush hour," Cortright argues. Further, if road pricing for these services doesn't cut congestion, it will be used by enemies of these policies. "As we’ve argued, even a 'dumb' vehicle miles tax is a half-step in the direction of a road pricing system that embraces readily available technology and achieve maximum results," Cortright says.