-----Original Message----- From: Tim Erickson Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 9:54 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [TCMetro] "Buy In" to carpool lanes?
On the subject of pricing for roads or congestion - the two proposal which have gotten the most attention are - A GAS TAX INCREASE. or Senator Day's attempt to allow motorists to "Buy In" to Carpool lanes (See Link To Article Below). The "Buy In" proposal is interesting, because it in essence is an attempt to allow citizen to purchase better access to public facilities than what the "regular" citizen is entitled to. This raises some very interesting philosophical questions about government and public goods. Does this "Buy In" proposal have any traction? Or is this just another wacky idea designed to make a point or start a debate.....? [TB] A couple of weeks ago London began using a system where drivers are charged a daily fee to drive in central London. It's called congestion pricing. They've copied a plan used in Singapore, Rome and a handful of other cities around the world. Such plans were first implemented about a decade ago. London's price is the highest, about $8.00 a day. You only pay weekdays between certain hours. The proceeds go to improving mass transit. I think it makes sense. Charge people to use a limited resource. The limited resource being space on the streets during the peak hours of the day. It also provides funding for alternatives to using that limited resource. Demands for more roads are based on the "needs" at times of peak use. It's much less expensive to move people by some type of mass transit than by single occupancy vehicle. An appropriate pricing mechanism would go a long way toward reducing the peak needs. Terrell Brown Minneapolis terrell at terrellbrown dot org __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
