Citation

Brock E. Am. City Cty. 2008; 123(6): 36-40.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Penton Media)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

This article reviews the use of variable pricing, defined as fees or charges to use designated lanes of a highway during peak periods. The goal of variable pricing is to reduce traffic congestion, which costs commuters and businesses more as cities continue to grow. The author first describes a proposal that recently failed in the New York legislature that would have charged drivers for access to downtown New York city during peak traffic times. A similar program has been used in London, England and in Stockholm, Sweden. The article considers growing congestion costs in the top 85 United States cities, the purpose of congestion pricing, tapping into flexibility in people's daily lives, the different physical methods used to implement congestion pricing, managed lanes and high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, the use of HOT lanes in San Diego County, California (including the toll schedule), buses that use HOT lanes, a pilot HOT lane program in Seattle, Washington, and a variable pricing plan for a parking program in Chicago, Illinois. The author reports that congestion pricing is an effective way to keep peak hour traffic flowing freely.