Congestion Pricing

Ben says congestion pricing is a political loser in the short run, and it’s a fight that transit advocates “don’t need.” I basically agree, but I think we need to take a step back to define our terms and parse out some of the separate arguments.

Tolling and congestion pricing (and even “pay as you drive” insurance) are mechanisms being debated right now to either (a) provide a source of transportation revenue, (b) de-incentivize SOV driving, or (c) both. Here are a few ideas that have been mooted in this area:

1. Toll new bridges (e.g. the Tacoma Narrows) at a fixed rate to pay for the cost of building and maintaining the bridge
2. Install HOT lanes (e.g. SR 167) to manage demand and collect revenue
3. Toll new bridges/roads (e.g. SR 520) at a variable rate to pay for the cost and manage demand
4. Toll existing bridges/roads (e.g. SR 520) at a variable rate to manage demand and collect revenue for an eventual replacement
5. Install a transponder in every car and toll people for every mile they drive on all major highways in the region, to manage demand and collect revenue
6. Do any of #2 – #5 above, but also siphon off some of the money to pay for transit projects.

I’ve ordered these in the order of how politically controversial they seem. #1 and #2 are so uncontroversial, they’re already happening! #3 is pretty likely and #4 is less likely, but gained at least tacit support in the legislature this year. It’s #5 and #6 that really get people’s goats. neither of those are particularly close at hand. #5 basically exists in just two places: London and Ron Sims’ brain.

#6 gets to the heart of Ben’s argument. This is where the controversy would arise. But this option is a long way off, especially some version of 5+6, which, Ben’s right, would create a firestorm of protest. In Olympia this session, Democrats beat back GOP efforts to explicitly ban #6, but that just leaves it open as an option, it doesn’t commit us to it. And judging by Mary Haugen’s email inbox, it’s quite a radioactive subject.

Finally, as the gas tax money dries up, there will be increasing pressure to use toll money to pay for roads. As a result, there will almost certainly be little left over to pay for transit (except maybe HOV lanes, bike lanes, and other road improvements that also benefit transit).

So, long story short, I think we’ve got a ways to go, and a lot of noncontroversial and semi-controversial options to consider in the meantime.