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Show Congestion pricing a rush hour solution Traffic congestion, a big problem for big cities, is getting worse and maybe the time has come to take some hard measures - like charging drivers for hitting the road at rush hour. ( ( While we don't necessarily advocate "congestion pricing, it could be in our future. Consider Utah's busiest roadway, 1-80 near 21st South in Salt Lake City, where an average 146,180 vehicles travel each day. It's interesting to note that Norway has become the first country in Europe to implement "congestion pricing.' The city of Trondheim is using electronic toll collection equipment, charging motorists a fee if they drive a main artery during peak hTne concept is now shifting to Southern California where at least two new private toU roads on the drawing boards are expected ex-pected to pioneer the practice of charging a tittle extra tc drivers who participate in rush hour. Environmental factors are likely to promote congestion pricing in this country as well. The final version of the Clean Air Act passed by Congress in 1990 included "toll facilities which also incorporate strong financial incentives for High Occupancy Vehicles" - in effect, congestion pricing. It's something to think about. |