Congesting charging works

The NZ Initiative reports:

As part of The New Zealand Initiative’s transport research series, our second report, Pricing Out Congestion, focuses on the international experiences around congestion pricing, i.e. the use of road charges encouraging motorists to avoid traveling at peak times in busy routes. 

More than just a driving nuisance, congestion constitutes a serious global economic problem. By some estimates, congestion costs the world about a trillion dollars every year. In response, cities around the globe are turning to scientific research and empirical support around the use of congestion charges to manage road overuse. 

From the first congestion charging implementation in Singapore in 1975 to London, Stockholm, and Dubai in the 2000s to the expected 2021 New York City launch, a myriad of road pricing schemes are successfully harnessing the power of the markets to fix road overcrowding – and providing valuable lessons along the way. 

In short, congestion charging works. 

I think congestion charging is a no brainer, and am mystified we won’t use it in NZ.

It should appeal to those on the right and left. It is a form of user pays and a market force which appeals to the right. It is good for encouraging greater use of public transport that the left should applaud.

It’s time to make it happen.