High traffic, high toll

With appropriate tolls, traffic on the toll lanes will be free flowing, and will therefore accomodate a much greater throughput of vehicles than congested lanes. Thus traffic on un-tolled lanes will diminish to the benefit of those who do not wish to pay the toll. Seems like a win-win to me.

John Harding @ 9:31 PM PDT, May 4, 2008

Add "Red" Ken Livingston to the list of politicians taken in by this road pricing nonsense in London. He was overwhelmingly defeated over this congestion pricing scheme yesterday as Mayor of London. Do you think Antonio is listening? Build a real transit system,, rum more trains and buses, pay for with equitable taxes and fares, and quit playing with kooky pricing schemes!

BOB2 @ 6:58 AM PDT, May 3, 2008

The public is having to swallow our politicians' ill conceived fixes, which only serve to cover up their mismanagement of the resources with which they were entrusted. Congestion pricing is another ill conceived fix that will only result in traffic patterns changing for the worse and a negative impact on the economies of those communities to which we will no longer travel. Public transportation must actually become as convenient as the car and actually takes us where we need to go. Los Angeles is not willing to make that commitment or investment, but the politicians will continue to give it lip service.

Disgusted! @ 8:54 AM PDT, May 2, 2008

Even the person that Professor Gordon quoted on carpools lanes agrees the add-a-lane is a better solution when considering pricing. The assertion that the carpool lanes are underutilzed is a flat out falsehood on the 210 and 10, and Caltrans own data show it is untrue.

BOB2 @ 4:32 PM PDT, May 1, 2008

There is really one question. Why should a County, so dependent on the taxation of cars, be believed when they say they are serious about traffic? This is merely a higher tax...because they need more money for their empire that does not scale. See how perplexed all of the politicians are related to high energy prices ... and global warming? Both problems from cars. Cars represent close to 50% of the economy when you add in parts, repair shops, insurance, registration, parking, the garage, marketing, and gas. Carpooling means less cars... 10% less cars is 5% less economy...and likely jobs. So we pretend it doesn't exist.

TrafficBulldog @ 3:31 PM PDT, May 1, 2008

Exxon/Chevron/Shell/BP certainly have not been penalized by extorting $$$ from US public by raising fuel prices. I have yet to see the US public boycott or come-up with a systematic plan to challenge the oil producers. Angelino's have no problem paying $600 for an iphone or wasting away their day in traffic but they cry like hell about paying an increased usage tax at the pump or increased their auto registration fees. Congestion can only be solved by reducing the number of cars on public roads. Toll roads and add-a-lane-projects are not the answer. LA needs a mandatory program where vehicles are taken off roads 2 work week days per month.

Steve @ 2:15 PM PDT, May 1, 2008

Tolling should be used for new projects like the Riverside County add-a-lane projects, and the 710 Tunnel. The I-10 can only be converted to a toll lane by taking off the 3+ carpools because there is no surplus capacity to sell., during rush hour. And, the diversion of the 2+ carpools to the already reduced flow-reduced speed mixed flow lanes on the 210 will reduce capacity still further and speeds to under 10 mph.. Even if people buy back in on the 210 traffic would be exactly the same, only then you would be gouged $10. Does anyone remember the Santa Monica takie-a-lane fiasco? It is truly a stupid proposal!

BOB2 @ 9:13 AM PDT, May 1, 2008

Congestion pricingis a terrible idea. Taxes, ridiculous laws, and the lack of decent infrastructure ALREADY do enough to dissuade businesses and people from coming downtown, so we don't need another disincentive.

John @ 7:47 AM PDT, May 1, 2008

No new taxes We're already being soaked Does anyone remember the Boston Tea Party? Everything Big Brother touches crashes & burns So keep your fingers out of our wallets Politicians revel in punishing the citizenry they serve when they screw up. It is enough, already. The government needs to take a vacation.

No New Fees @ 1:38 AM PDT, May 1, 2008

As a native Angeleno and resident of London, I have been following the debate about congestion charging with suprise. Traffic levels in the congestion zone are back up to pre-zone levels. Small shops and businesses that went out of business are never to return. The zone was put to public consultation with overwhelmingly negative results, yet it went ahead because all they needed to do was consult the public, not actually follow what the public said. The expansion of the zone went ahead with no consultation. Congestion charging is NOT an answer to congestion or CO2 emissions. It is merely another tax.

Sylvia Willcocks @ 11:23 PM PDT, Apr 30, 2008

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