Wired News has a story about variable rate toll lanes in San Diego being used as a tool that authorities are using to control traffic congestion. Technicians are able to adjust the toll from $.50 to $8 based on the level of congestion ahead as detected with cameras and road sensors. The tolls, displayed prior to entering the lanes, can be adjusted every six minutes. Proceeds from this implementation fund mass transit systems. Other jurisdictions use similar congestion tolls to fund road construction.

I wonder if Chicago would consider such a system. The Kennedy expressway from downtown northwest towards O'Hare airport has two reversible express lanes in the center along with a rapid transit line. It's well known that the CTA(Chicago Transit Authority) is perpetually strapped for funding. Would the State of Illinois consider value pricing the express lanes to provide funding for the CTA? This would probably be very popular with downstate residents who wonder why their state tax dollars subsidize transit in Chicago.

Opposition to the so called "Lexis lanes" would be huge as people are used to them being free. Since this portion of the Kennedy expressway(I-90) serves wealthy suburbanites to the north and northwest of the city people would also claim that a system like this would punish the poor leaving them in gridlock.

It would be interesting. Can Chicago resist a ready made cash cow?

In San Diego the lanes are free for so called HOVs. High Occupancy Vehicles are considered vehicles with at least two people in them. Before you bring out your mannequins and blow-up dolls consider this sensing technology that can verify human head count in moving vehicles.

Americans feel congestion free well maintained roads are a human right not a tax supported system. In the days before monitoring and sensing technology road funding had to be generally funded. Now technology supports new forms of specific user funding for all sorts of new and existing road projects.

It's low taxes, cheap gas, good roads pick two.

[Wired News on congestion toll lanes]

tags: Wired News | San Diego | toll road | traffic congestion | gas tax | Chicago | Kennedy Expressway
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