Given the taxes paid to the federal, state and local governments for the upkeep of the roads I think the average citizen has more than paid for their right to use the roads regardless of the congestion associated with them. Making the average commuter pay more money to go from point A to point B is not the answer. While our current infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle the increasing traffic congestion, there are better alternatives than making the commute more costly.

Our larger cities that suffer most from traffic congestion have reliable, albeit often outdated public transportation systems already in place. We need to encourage commuters to take advantage of the subways, bus lines, ferries and other existing transportation systems that will help to alleviate the clutter of automobiles in the cities. The easiest way to do this is to offer a voucher system for regular users. Rates of public transportation have been tipping increasingly higher and higher over the past several years since nine eleven. Most of this is the result of increased security on the infrastructure system. We need to curb this trend and offer incentives for regular users. Reducing the cost and increasing the convenience of public transportation will get more people out of their cars.

Telecommuting is another excellent way to keep people off the roads during rush hour. The government should offer tax incentives to corporations that promote telecommuting and satellite offices for their employees. Instead of having employees make the commute into the city, with minimal investment employees can work just as effectively from their homes or from shared office spaces in suburbia and be just as productive as if they made the grueling trip into the office. Telecommuting alleviates the number of cars on the road as well as freeing up public transportation to handle the influx of new commuters that we hope to switch over from personal automobiles.

Carpooling is another way to reduce overall traffic. Many companies already offer fuel vouchers and other incentives for employees who travel in groups to work rather than in their individual cars. This is a program that should be expanded and supported by the federal government. Tax credits, fuel vouchers or some other low cost incentive can easily persuade more people to share vehicles getting into the city. While there are advantages to carpooling today, they are more advantages of convenience than actual incentives. People need a justifiable reason to change their comfortable habits. Money back is always a justifiable reason for someone to change their behavior.

The concept of making people pay more money to drive their vehicles is oppressive and unnecessary. With the cost of living continuing to climb, fuel prices reaching all time record levels and the government wastefully spending more and more money each year the last thing the average citizen wants or needs is another government imposed fee. Breaking the backs of the commuters is not the answer. That will only lead to a degradation of the local economy and a shift in enterprise away from the oppressed areas of congestion. While this may free the area of congestion, it will surely also free it from any foreseeable economic prosperity.