Forum seeks to resolve traffic congestion

 

Transportation experts say local governments and taxpayers will save more in transportation costs by adding toll roads than carpool lanes, additional lanes or even light rail lines.

Those were the conclusions of several speakers at the second annual forum hosted by Cal State San Bernardino’s William and Barbara Leonard Transportation Center on May 2 at the Hilton Ontario Airport, “For Whom the Road Tolls: The Future of Toll Roads and Road Pricing in California” was presented in collaboration with the Inland Empire Economic Partnership and the WTS (Advancing Women in Transportation).

The event featured three panels of specialists and consultants from various state and national agencies as well as scholars on transportation finance and pricing for Southern California. More than 165 people attended the conference.

One of the presenters, Brennan Kidd, a traffic engineer from Lee Engineering in Arizona, said it would be cheaper to build and maintain toll roads, which, in the long run, could save motorists money.

“We hosted the conference to help educate agencies and key decision makers regarding transportation management,” said John Wu, director of CSUSB’s Leonard Transportation Center, “There are two purposes to building toll roads: First, to finance the transportation infrastructure; and secondly, to better manage traffic congestion.”

A 2006 survey, presented by Asha Agrawal from San Jose State University’s Mineta Transportation Institute, indicated there is evidence for public support for toll roads. The study showed stronger support among women, younger populations and from regions with existing toll roads.

Norm King, former and founding director of CSUSB’s Leonard Transportation Center, who has remained in an advisory capacity, said, “There was a wide spectrum of academic, consulting and public sector representatives with a favorable concept of toll roads in the future of California. Tolling appears to be a more efficient manner of handling road congestion and mobility versus raising the gas tax.”

For more information about the forum, contact Rusty Thornton at the CSUSB Leonard Transportation Center, (909) 537-5085.