by Kevin Vuong When the cost of congestion is discussed, the emphasis has been on the economic cost and the loss of productivity because, quite frankly, it’s easier to quantify. Yes, congestion hinders mobility in the physical sense of getting from one place to another, and there has been extensive research into the consequences for […]
We take transportation policies personally, and we should. But when it comes to fighting congestion, instead of playing the blame game we need to change the game completely. I have a confession to make: I drive a car. Not all the time. But sometimes. Even though I live five minutes from a subway stop. Even […]
High occupancy vehicle (HOV) and high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes are in the news. A temporary network of HOV lanes was in place in the Toronto area during the recent Pan Am and Parapan Am Games (people were divided about this). And Ontario recently announced that it is moving forward with plans to implement HOT […]
Oregon just started a third, voluntary trial of a system that could fundamentally change the way that roads are funded in the State. Under the program, instead of paying per gallon of fuel via the gas tax, drivers pay per mile—and people are signing up. But pricing driving more directly can also drive changes in […]
More choice, less traffic. Let’s have a real conversation about how HOT lanes work and who benefits. Last week, Kathleen Wynne reiterated that HOT lanes (High Occupancy Toll lanes) are on the province’s agenda. She didn’t say where and she didn’t say when, but she did say that planning is in the works and that […]
Hate traffic? You’re not alone. Economists hate it too and probably for all the same reasons you do. It costs all of us the one thing we can never get back: time. On a personal level, that’s the gut-wrenching feeling of walking in fifteen minutes late to your 9am meeting (while everyone watches). Or begging […]