In an attempt to reduce carbon emissions, Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan has proposed a new ‘congestion pricing’ toll system for city roadways.
This new tolling system is intended to discourage car and truck drivers from traveling to the city in order to cut down on traffic.
The idea was outlined in a press release published on April 5, 2018.
The details have yet to be worked out, but Durkan wants to implement a real congestion fee on downtown streets. The revenue is intended for transit improvements and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Seattle would be the first U.S. city to implement the system.
With Seattle’s cost of living already skyrocketing above the national average, residents have concerns about how this new policy will affect them. According to KVI, this tax/tolling system could add fire to the flame that is Seattle’s affordable housing issue by hiking up the cost of any service requiring a delivery truck.
If this is the case, the entire city, not just drivers, could foot the bill.