New Bill Nixes Rush Hour Tolls: Feds Barred from Using Congestion Pricing

This bill flat-out prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from setting up or even keeping any programs that use 'value pricing,' specifically calling out congestion or cordon pricing. Basically, it means the feds can't use tolls that change based on the time of day or location to manage traffic, a tool often floated for busy city centers.

Roadblocks and Revenue

The core change here is a straight-up ban. No more federal programs that charge you extra for driving downtown during rush hour or entering specific high-traffic zones. The bill amends the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, Section 1012(b), by adding a new restriction. Think of it like this: if you're a delivery driver making midday runs, you won't suddenly face higher fees just because it's 2 PM instead of 10 AM. Or, if you are a construction worker who has to drive to a downtown job site, you won't be penalized for working normal hours.

The Price of Freedom (From Fees)

This move could be a win for anyone regularly driving in areas where congestion pricing was on the table. It takes away a potential cost, especially for folks who can't easily switch to public transit or change their work hours. However, cities lose a tool to manage gridlock and potentially fund transit improvements. It might mean more traffic jams for everyone in the long run, and it limits how cities can get creative with solutions. For instance, a city that wanted to incentivize off-peak deliveries to reduce daytime congestion couldn't use a federal program to help set that up.

Challenges on the Horizon

One potential hiccup is how broadly this ban might be applied. Could it limit other, less direct ways of managing traffic demand? It's not crystal clear. Also, while it prevents new costs for drivers, it doesn't offer alternative funding for cities that were counting on congestion pricing revenue for transportation projects.