Around the transpo-sphere: congestion pricing, hybrids and speed cameras

Here's a post-lunch spin through the transpo-sphere, courtesy of Google news alerts:

An elderly couple received a $40 ticket in the mail after a speed enforcement camera clocked them allegedly going 100 mph on a residential street in suburban Montgomery County, Md. The couple say they were going less than the speed limit in their barn burner of a car, a Toyota Echo. Police say the camera malfunctioned and they should have caught the error before mailing the ticket. Washington Post.

On the other hand, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (at right) is looking to put 108 speed enforcement cameras on state highways. The $75 tickets would help pay for more state troopers. Arlington Daily Record. My two cents: Our neighbor Arizona has gone this route (the above photo shows a camera on the 101 freeway in Scottsdale) and it's likely more states will as they seek additional revenue to patch budget holes. However, a bill to allow the city of Beverly Hills to start a test program using the cameras on residential streets died in the Legislature this year, as it has twice previously.

Even with gas prices sinking, there's lots of news on the hybrid front. Toyota says all models will have hybrid engines by 2020, Ford says it's going to double production of hybrids next year, and Honda says it's going to produce a model to compete with the Prius -- and be cheaper, reports the Wall Street Journal.

If you think the idea of turning the carpool lane here into toll lanes on two freeways has caused a stink, think again. Or read the British papers. The U.K. government is planning to test different congestion pricing technologies that can be used to charge motorists fees. Many residents fear that it's the beginning of a national pay-as-you-drive road pricing plan, but the government says hold on to your crumpets and that it's just a test. Manchester Evening News.

At a time when many agencies are trying to cope with crowds or have to cut service, the SEPTA transit system serving the Greater Philly area is expanding some service and the Philadelphia Inquirer has mostly kind words. And, get this: In Montreal, the local commuter rail service just announced it's buying 20 new locomotives to go with the 160 rail cars it committed to purchasing in December. Quebec is trying to increase mass transit use by 8% by 2012, reports the Montreal Gazette.

-- Steve Hymon

Photo (top): Mark Henle / Arizona Republic

Photo (bottom): M. Spencer Green / Associated Press

Comments

[BOB2]

Congestion Pricing in Britain, the bureaucrats still don't get it, but Labor MP's do?

After the failed congestion pricing scheme (80% of revenues are spent on toll collection for the firm supplying the system???) in London caused "Red" Ken Livingston to lose re-election as Mayor of London by over 500,000 votes, the Labor government put the scheme for national road pricing on hold, last Spring.

The Ministry of Transport, like Mary Peters, our lame duck DOT Secretary, continues to play footsie with the firms that will sell the government Congestion Pricing franchises and equipment? Sound's like how they do business at the MTA and Caltrans?