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June 10, 2008

Environmental Benefits of Congestion Reduction

Greenwire published a piece today outlining some of the progress being made by the Department’s Urban Partnership communities as they employ new approaches to taming congestion.

Of the San Francisco congestion reduction initiative that focuses on parking, Greenwire wrote: “Adjusting meter prices to ensure the availability of parking spaces is aimed at reducing the number of drivers circling the block in search of that elusive open spot, the plan's supporters say. The increased cost of parking at peak times, they say, will also provide an incentive for people to take a bus, ride a bicycle or walk…
 
“The Department of Transportation gave San Francisco more than $18 million to help buy technology needed for the parking plan, such as sensors under parking spots to provide real-time feedback on space availability.

“The Bush administration is moving overall to shift the financial burden of transportation financing from federal taxpayers to drivers and transit riders. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters told a Washington forum this spring that the ultimate goal was a ‘pay as you drive’ system that will charge for every mile traveled (Greenwire, April 28)...

Los Angeles will use express toll lanes, while Chicago's plan includes a congestion-price parking scheme that officials there say should be ready by the end of the year…”

-Secretary Peters

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