Exploring New Ways to Reduce Traffic
Successful only if coupled with significant public transportation improvements, congestion pricing can be an effective way to reduce congestion, improve the environment, and expand transportation choices to meet people’s needs. Congestion pricing gives people options: to pay a fee to drive on a traffic-free road, to travel on an alternative route, or to take transit. MPC is highlighting places where congestion pricing has worked and exploring options to improve Chicagoland’s transit system in tandem with congestion pricing. Following our 2008 "Moving at the Speed of Congestion" report, MPC has led the process of engaging elected officials as part of a team studying pricing options for the Tollway.
Articles
Former MPC Board Chair John S. Gates Jr. will help keep Regional Transportation Authority on track-
- Congratulations to newly appointed Regional Transportation Authority Chairman John S. Gates, Jr., chairman and CEO of PortaeCoa, and longtime friend, former chair, and current member of the Metropolitan Planning Council's Board of Governors.
"John Gates' expertise in real estate development,…
San Francisco moves forward with congestion pricing-
- While congestion pricing has already been introduced by several states and instituted on some highways, San Francisco is poised to become the first city in the United States to implement this innovative transportation demand management tool. According to the latest Urban Mobility Report, the…
Chicago Tribune poll confirms regional demand for transit-
- The Chicago Tribune released poll results this weekend showing suburbanites think transit investment is more important than money for roads. Among the key findings:
When asked whether improving or building expressways and tollways or improving and adding to mass transit should be a greater…
Minnesota battles traffic with congestion pricing-
- In 2005, nine miles of underutilized carpool lanes along Minnesota’s I-394 corridor were converted into toll lanes. Since then, the lanes have accommodated more than 940,000 vehicles every year, and 90 percent of users maintain a very high level of satisfaction. Passengers in the non-tolled…
Alternatives to Driving: Transit on the Tollway-
- Nationally, 76 percent of all commuters drove alone to work in 2007.
More related articles »
Multimedia
The Road Less Traveled: Exploring Congestion Pricing in Chicagoland-
- Publication
- (1 MB)
- July 22, 2010
- In 2007, the Federal Highway Administration awarded the Illinois Tollway a grant to study the potential of congestion pricing in the Chicago region. The Tollway selected Wilbur Smith Associates, Inc., as the technical consultant for the study. The Metropolitan Planning Council, a policy research…
- Chicago Region Congestion Pricing Study
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- Presentation
- posted by Alex Gilbert
- July 22, 2010
- This presentation details a pricing study of the Chicago region. It looks at the costs of congestion, the study, traveler opinions, goals, three finalist corridors targeted for pricing, an analysis of pricing on I-90, and criteria for solutions.
- Congestion Pricing in Minnesota
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- Presentation
- posted by Alex Gilbert
- July 22, 2010
- This presentation looks at how congestion pricing has been used effectively in Minnesota. This presentation describes the policy development, revenue and toll rate setting, user response, lessons from MnPASS, and draft summary of new MnPASS study.
- Moving at the Speed of Congestion
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- Listen to remarks made at the August 2008 release of Moving at the Speed of Congestion.
Putting Illinois Back on the Map-
- Publication
- (2 MB)
- May 1, 2008
- MPC's recommendations in this May 2008 report offered a package of policy and revenue recommendations with one common goal: to improve Chicago’s transportation network to ensure the region’s continued economic growth. Without new and progressive transportation policies and sufficient…
More related multimedia »
Links
- Planetizen
- Planetizen is a public-interest information exchange provided by Urban Insight for the urban planning, design, and development community. Interchange is Planetizen’s daily blog featuring opinions and commentary from leaders in the field on all things relating to the built environment. More info »
- Transportation Alternatives
- The New York-based Transportation Alternatives promotes congestion pricing as one of “the most powerful policy tool at the hands of city officials to reduce unnecessary driving, promote environmentally sound transportation, and finance 21st Century improvements to our aging transportation infrastructure.” Visit the site for mor resources on congestion pricing. More info »
- Environmental Defense Fund
- This EDF Web article, “A Smart Solution for Reducing Traffic in Urban Centers and Busy Corridors,” provides a smart breakdown of congestion pricing by city as it relates to the CO2 emissions, traffic accidents, transit ridership and effects on traffic. More info »
- Victoria Transport Institute—Online Transportation Demand Management Encyclopedia
- Check out Victoria Transport Institute’s web site to learn more about congestion pricing and other strategies to manage transportation demand. More info »
More related links »
Collaborators
Partners
Illinois Tollway
Wilbur Smith Associates
Funders
The Chicago Community Trust
Illinois Tollway
