Congo Pricing in the News, US and Daily

New York's biggest circulation tabloid the "Daily News" editorialized against the MTA for phase out of tokens in favor of the E-ZPass electronic toll tags and inaccurately predicted huge back-ups in the cash-only lanes at MTA plazas. In fact the token phase-out has been going quite smoothly. But interestingly the "Daily News" came out in favor of a rush-hour premium toll and said the conversion to electronic tolling would facilitate this: "A better way to go is through `congestion pricing.' Meaning, if you travel during rush hour, weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and between 3 p.m. and 7pm, you'll have to pay more than during off-peak hours... E-Z Pass makes congestion pricing possible."

"US News & World Report" (Jan 6) in a listing of transport reforms called for: building more roads, improving mass transit, developing "smart" cars and highways. Congestion pricing, it said, could save roadway expansion funds, provide a stronger incentive to use transit and unclog the roads. It noted a report by FHWA evaluator Ed Sullivan of Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo (see Cal Poly report nearby) that users of the toll lanes come from all income brackets. "For some working parents, a $2.50 toll is preferable to steep overtime charges for day care. The fast lanes also are popular with independent contractors and other workers who are paid by the job."