This article in the NYT highlights the absurdity of current transportation policy. While New York City is trying to get federal funding to help it pay for a congestion pricing and traffic congestion policy, the federal government is, at the same time, handing out large tax breaks to help people reduce the costs of driving to work. It’s yet another example of government policy gone awry, badly.
The solution isn’t sexy, won’t get you on TV, and doesn’t make for great headlines that will earn prestige: eliminate all government subsidies, and either cap pollution or tax it. It’s not rocket science.
