Congestion Pricing: Toll roads being touted as way to reduce LA traffic (Los Angeles: taxes)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Road Diets are already an evil plan, but there's another even more foul idea brewing in the bowls of Los Angeles. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is promoting something called "congestion pricing" as a way to reduce the city's traffic.

Congestion pricing would charge drivers a toll to use certain roads during rush hour. And of course, proponents point to cities like London and Stockholm where they're used successfully.

Congestion Pricing: Toll roads being touted as way to reduce LA traffic | John and Ken | KFI AM 640

[BRinSM]

it would suck to have to pay to drive on certain roads, but it would certainly help with congestion. traffic sucks but there's no easy way to fix it. my hope is that self driving cars solve congestion issues in the not too distant future.

[Texamichiforniasota]

Sounds like a reasonable idea. I like the Express Lanes they already have on the 10, 91, and 110. They could make it free for carpools. Everyone values their time differently, so poor people will likely end up on surface streets, but the rest of us will save a bunch of time.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

Congestion Pricing: Toll roads being touted as way to reduce LA traffic | John and Ken | KFI AM 640

LA simply needs to keep doing what it's doing with rail.

Eventually, people will work things out on their own.

There is no need to penalize drivers arbitrarily.

When one decides to drive at a given time, which results in a two hour door to door, that is their own choice and they will incur the consequences of that decision.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Why should we pay twice for the same roads that aren't properly maintained in the first place?

[jm1982]

Tax working people more . Great idea !
The people driving during rush hour are going to /from work .

All of these "small taxes" are really adding up .

[majoun]

I would be surprised if Santa Monica didn't do this, considering their traffic and congestion problems, and given that their populace is more monied than almost all of the rest of LA County.

The only problem would be the money winding up in the pockets of unionized public employees or Swiss bank accounts rather than to maintain the roads.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by majoun

I would be surprised if Santa Monica didn't do this, considering their traffic and congestion problems, and given that their populace is more monied than almost all of the rest of LA County.

The only problem would be the money winding up in the pockets of unionized public employees or Swiss bank accounts rather than to maintain the roads.

I would think a lot of the traffic in SM is from people that don't live in the area though.
People commuting there to work there and also tourists/visitors.

Charging a toll to enter Santa Monica might help with the traffic, but the risk is less people might go there to spend money.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by jm1982

I would think a lot of the traffic in SM is from people that don't live in the area though.
People commuting there to work there and also tourists/visitors.

Charging a toll to enter Santa Monica might help with the traffic, but the risk is less people might go there to spend money.

Maybe, but parking isn't exactly abundant there already and it is big enough of a draw that people might willingly pay said money.

For similar reasons Beverly Hills could adapt a similar measure.

I don't see any other municipalities being able to do this without suffering serious negative externalities though.

[LuvSouthOC]

Tolls work well in OC.