1997 AGN FEB 18 Study Info - Laserfiche WebLink

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i ° 2/�/97 Final Report and Recommendations for IZegional Market-Based Transportation Pricing IZEACH Taslc Force (Reduce Emissions axd Congestion on Highways) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ' Januar� 1997 I. Background: Air Pollution and Traffic Congestion Threa�en ' Regioraal Vitaiify , Southern �alifornia has made great strides in its decades-lon� effort to clean up the air and ensure adequate levels of mobility. $ut the region's population—projected to increase by 7,� million by 2020—anaf current trends iowards increased per capita vehicle travel pose rnajor challen�es to our economic and environmental health. While in the past, ihe South Coast Air Quality Mana.�ement District (SCAQMD), along with other air qualitv agencies, has made significant pro�ress in improvin� air quaiity throu� various pro�rams, current;plans for attainment of health standards depend, b� necessity, on the development and consumer acceptance of a number of ne«; cleaner technologies. And though the SCAQMD projects meeting current �'ederal clean air standards by 2010, ihe State's more stringent clean air standards are not expected to be reac,�ed until after that date. As the region adopted and implemented the traditionat rerulatory and technology-forcing air quality straiegies, innovative transportation demand management measures (commuter-based rules, telecommuting, etc.) were developed to help meet air quality objectives, as well as to maintain regionai mobility under ne�v nscaLconstraints. Some of these measures have been implemerned, �vith various degrees of success. Yet,,the stra.tegy believedby some to be the most effeciive--comgrehensi�•e market-based transportation pricing (inctuding congestion pricing and emissions fees}-has, until recentiv, remained untested in any si�nificant regional application. Market-based transportation pricin� (also called "user fees" or "market incentives") influer,ces travel belnavior by chazging motorists according to vehicle usage. The fee should be closely .-elated to the actual cosis of congestion and air pollution, based on relevant factors includin� hew :,rowded a road�vaw is when a driver chooses to trave( that route, and on the amount of a vetucle's emissions per mile ciriven. User fees work efficiently to harness ihe power of the marketplace, .gi��ing businesses an opportunity to respond to consumer demand and provide �vays for people to get access to jobs, recreation, goods and services besides drivinr� alone or at peak periods. Uniike most . other solwtions, ihese fees can help to solve many problems at once, reducing congestion and all major air pollutants bv placing the true costs of drivin� on individual drivers. , ,� : _ - r _ , _ � ;- � �