A Solution to Congestion Pricing

By Barry Benepe

CURBS SHOULD BE LIBERATED FROM PARKED CARS: Above, an example of how the streets can be, when devoid of parked cars (circa May 2022). Photo by Maggie Berkvist.

The entire concept of congestion “pricing” is all wrong. The city should not earn a profit from congestion. It should discourage it.

Congestion is caused chiefly by “space cruisers”—motor vehicles searching for one of the few free parking spaces closest to their destination.

Curbs should be liberated from parked cars, thus freeing them entirely for D&D (Discharge of passengers and Delivery of goods and services). There is only one way of doing this. All curbs should be freed of free parking. Meter paid curb parking could be provided in those areas considered appropriate by DOT. There is a great deal of paid parking required by zoning law in private residential buildings. You can often see these where garage attendants stand in front of open doors waving red flags, frantically trying to induce drivers to enter their garages.

Tolls are appropriate for bridges across rivers where ferries once transported vehicles, but not for city streets for which we tax payers, drivers and pedestrians alike, have already paid our taxes. There should be no charge for their use, over and above normal use and maintenance, which is covered by real estate taxes.

So-o-o, forget congestion “pricing.” Get rid of congestion.