Orphan Road

I posted a comment on this piece over on Crosscut, but it turned into an interesting point so I thought I'd re-post here. In weighing the pros and cons of tolls, Casey Corr writes:

I doubt the public has paid much attention to planners' talk about "congestion pricing," which is proposed in the new plan. Environmentalists support the concept as a means of "encouraging" the use of public transit and of reducing auto pollution. But what's the answer to the construction worker in the pickup truck who starts to believe he's been priced off a public road?

My answer: That he should pass the increased costs on to the general contractor that's employing him, no?

I live in Seattle and do consulting on the Eastside. I already charge my clients a travel fee, so I'd just have to add on the toll. If it actually does work to reduce congestion, presumably I'd be spending less time in traffic and my productivity would go up, so it'd be a wash overall.

And if my client decides to go with a consultant on the Eastside? Even better -- that's one less car off the bridge: mine.