Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

America’s Myopic Public Debate About Tolling Roads

A tolling holiday on the SR 520 bridge in Seattle would likely make traffic worse during a construction project, but that's what some have demanded. Photo: Marc Smith, Flickr
Suspending tolls on the SR 520 bridge in Seattle would likely make traffic worse during a construction project, but that's what some motorists say they want. Photo: Marc Smith/Flickr
false

Seattle is getting ready to embark on a construction project that will put the squeeze on a few of its major highways. This event, ironically, served as a jumping off point for local media to indignantly demand a tolling "holiday" on the SR 520 floating bridge.

Martin Duke at Seattle Transit Blog said the episode illustrates the absurdity of the debate about highway tolling:

The idea that tolling is some insidious stealth tax, or a fundamental violation of the inalienable right to drive anywhere, for free, with unlimited subsidy is a well-established cancer on the Puget Sound’s discourse.

Spending hundreds of millions of dollars to expand our highway capacity and “ease congestion” does massive damage to the environment and ends up inducing the same congestion. But in that debate, the establishment wrings its hands about the economy and the need to move freight around, because time is money. When maintenance dramatically reduces highway capacity, however, no one cares enough about businesses to do the one thing that might help.

I agree that freight operators, the handyman with his tools, and so on need uncongested highways. And because shorter trips on the highway feed directly into their bottom line, tolls are but a fraction of the cost of sitting in traffic because there’s no alternative. The answer, if policymakers really care about businesses like PCC Logistics, is not to suspend the toll but raise the toll to whatever level keeps 520 free-flowing this week.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Counting Pantographs offers an interesting discussion about how sprawl affects the Mormon Church. Greater Greater Washington talks to activists trying to improve the impact of a Metro construction project on public space in Silver Spring. And the City Fix explains how congestion pricing could help reduce inequality in Beijing.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘Trust Us’: Albany Pols Offer Only Promises To Fill Massive Hole In MTA Capital Plan

Gov. Hochul put a big "IOU" note in place of a real plan to fill the $33-billion hole in the MTA’s 2025-2029 capital plan.

January 15, 2025

Hochul’s ‘Heavy’ E-Bike Proposal is Light on Potential: Critics

Very few class 3 electric bikes reach 100 pounds. And they look a lot like class 2 e-bikes.

January 15, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines: Curb Enthusiasm Edition

New York City will launch five "microhub" delivery zones in Brooklyn and Manhattan this spring or earlier, officials said. Plus more news.

January 15, 2025

GOP Governor Hopeful Mike Lawler Dishes Culture War Dreck In Anti-Transit Tantrum

The Republican congressman journeyed to Albany to spew the same empty rage that transit opponents have trotted out for years.

January 14, 2025

Gov. Hochul Eyes Parking Ban at Elementary Schools; Advocates Say It’s ‘Not Enough’

It's a start, but why not bring the safety benefits to the whole city?

January 14, 2025
See all posts