The infamously car-centric city is weighing a proposed congestion pricing pilot program to reduce traffic and encourage public transit use.
L.A.’s notoriously traffic-choked freeways may soon not be so free anymore, reports Rachel Uranga for the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), the region’s transit agency, is exploring a congestion pricing scheme for some of the city’s freeways and roads.
The plan so far lacks solid details, but Metro expects to release a full study of the potential program in the next few months. “The transit agency has zeroed in on three locations for a possible test program: a nearly 16-mile stretch of the 10 Freeway between downtown and Santa Monica, arterial streets and freeways around downtown and the canyon streets and freeways that connect the San Fernando Valley to the L.A. Basin.”
According to Uranga, “the plan promises cleaner air, smoother rides and more funds to the agency’s coffers in the future. Studies show it could reduce harmful air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by pushing more commuters to use public transit, while making roads less hellish for those who pay to use them.”
Rather than having optional paid lanes, which already exist in the Los Angeles area, the congestion pricing proposal would apply to entire roadways. “The aim is to change commuter behavior with the charges while providing transit alternatives.” Those transit alternatives, which remain an inferior option in most parts of the city, will be key to getting commuters to switch modes.
On the other coast, New York City’s congestion pricing plan is inching forward. If implemented, it would be the first such plan in the country.
FULL STORY: The freeway was born in L.A. But it might not always be free to drive on
NYC Congestion Pricing Plan Gains Federal Approval
The program would be the first cordon pricing scheme in the United States.
Debating L.A.'s Growth, Traffic and Transit
The Transit Coalition's Bart Reed and USC planning Professor Peter Gordon debate transit and traffic in L.A. in this five-part point-counterpoint series.
Congestion Pricing: New York City’s Next Hero
Big problems need big solutions.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.