First Singapore, then London, Stockholm, maybe Manhattan … then Seattle? King County Exec Ron Sims thinks road pricing is inevitable, as Crosscut reports in a new series.
Important quote:
“If somebody says, ‘We have a congestion problem in Seattle,’ the first response is, ‘We need to build more roads.'” But, Opiola warns, “When the supply has no price, then demand will always exceed it.” Enough lanes are never enough.
I keep hearing that the Provincial Government (particularly the Premier’s office) would like to rethink Gateway. But Kevin Falcon has locked them in, and the “free alternative” policy prevents any discussion of regional road pricing. Meanwhile, the climate-change strategy remains unreconciled with a freeway-expansion transportation strategy. (First Sea-to-Sky, then Gateway, then Highway 99 and a twinning of the tunnel.)
If the Province doesn’t want to lead, maybe Seattle will help them follow.
