Commentary

New CBO Report on Congestion Pricing

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently released a report on congestion pricing. The report was prepared at the request of the Chairman of the House Committee on the Budget John Spratt. The report notes that about 20 pricing projects are operating, another four are under construction and almost 20 more are under study. CBO noted the benefits of congestion pricing, including shorter and more reliable travel times. Congestion pricing also results in more efficient use of current highway capacity and allows future investment in highway infrastructure to be made more efficiently.

CBO also says in the report that there are various options to expand congestion pricing in reauthorizing surface transportation programs including:
Reduce Federal Barriers to Implementation of Congestion Pricing
Change Funding Options to Promote Adoption of Congestion Pricing (incentives)
Address Equity Issues (which can be done)
Reduce Transaction Costs, using electronic tolling/charging and encourage interoperabiltiy

A report worth reading, and something Reason has been advocating for years.