I like congestion pricing in theory, but I'm not sure we have enough information to call the New York program a success.
All the reporting I've seen tallies up the benefits without considering the costs, and sometimes even treats costs as benefits. For example, an 11% decrease in traffic in the toll area isn't a benefit; that represents people who were priced out of their commutes and whose lives are presumably worse than before. The faster traffic and environmental benefits probably outweigh those losses, but that hasn’t been shown yet.
Driving in high-demand areas like downtown Manhattan produces huge negative externalities (noise, danger, pollution, congestion) to pedestrians, residents, other drivers, people breathing air downwind…pricing it is just good policy! Increased ridership on the subway and buses seems to me to indicate that many people are making the economically rational choice to use public transit.
All of this has buoyed my spirit immensely to day.
Oxbow lakes! Probably the only thing I remember from my geography lessons and I bet I’m not the only person who has a soft spot for them.
Indeed!
I like congestion pricing in theory, but I'm not sure we have enough information to call the New York program a success.
All the reporting I've seen tallies up the benefits without considering the costs, and sometimes even treats costs as benefits. For example, an 11% decrease in traffic in the toll area isn't a benefit; that represents people who were priced out of their commutes and whose lives are presumably worse than before. The faster traffic and environmental benefits probably outweigh those losses, but that hasn’t been shown yet.
Driving in high-demand areas like downtown Manhattan produces huge negative externalities (noise, danger, pollution, congestion) to pedestrians, residents, other drivers, people breathing air downwind…pricing it is just good policy! Increased ridership on the subway and buses seems to me to indicate that many people are making the economically rational choice to use public transit.
I absolutely agree.