Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2008 > November > 26
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Taxing traffic congestion
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republicans are finding a way to tax traffic congestion. The formula is to take a road already built with public money — 14 miles of I-85, starting between Spaghetti Junction to Old Peachtree Road — and levy a tax on one lane. The tax changes based on the level of congestion. The idea is that the tax increases or shrinks throughout the day as needed to keep traffic flowing.
Well, it is one approach to congestion that brings some relief to those willing to pay the tolls for the privilege of enjoying a service that government should be obligated to provide anyway — and that’s congestion relief.
The new taxing system will be made possible with a $110 million grant announced Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters. Georgia is expected to kick in $37 million.
Part of the money will go to buy 36 new buses.
This tax, along with others that might be levied for transportation proposals, should bring genuine, measurable congestion relief — which specifically includes added highway capacity, the choice for 97 percent of us. If the new revenues from the congestion-lane tax are used specifically to give traffic relief that can be measured and documented, fine. If they’re to be diverted to projects that can’t be supported by fares or those that allegedly provide “choice” without lessening demand for highways, this is just a clever way to levy a new tax.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
