Congestion Pricing For Smart Streets

What a concept: Smart Streets. Streets that perform more than serve as a conduit for polluting, oversized, noisy, and dangerous automobile traffic. Streets that are pleasant and friendly. Streets that truly serve the bustling commerce where people find goods they desire. Streets that can be destinations for people, instead of something to be feared, traversed with extreme caution or avoided altogether.

Congestion pricing is an idea that has been around for over 50 years, but there it sits on the dusty shelf of unimplemented good ideas. But there is a renewed effort by a broad coalition of environmental, business groups, public health and urban advocates to turn a good idea into public policy. Throw in a growing energy crisis that is reaching a breaking point, and enter the NY Times Regional Opinion Page

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