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Article: Toll talk: congestion pricing is the cure for our overcrowded highways.(PUBLIC POLICY III)
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- November 17, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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TEN years ago, Florida's Lee County had a congestion problem. Cape Coral served as a bedroom community for the nearby business hub, Fort Myers, and to get between the two, workers had to cross the Caloosahatchee River. The Cape Coral and Midpoint bridges were reliably clogged during rush hour.
But through the federal government, the county secured funds for an experiment: It would adjust the bridges' tolls based on the time of day. Those who drove during the "shoulder periods" just before and just after rush hour would get a discount--and, hopefully, some rush-hour commuters would change their schedules to save money.
"There was some skepticism," says ...