READING PASSAGE (3 minutes)
Many metropolises today face a severe problem in terms of air pollution and overcrowded streets, roadways, and bridges. One powerful public policy tool that can remedy this problem is called congestion pricing. In short, congestion pricing is a system by which motorists pay a fee to use certain roads, bridges, and tunnels during peak times of the day. In other words, a motorist who wants to use a busy street during rush hour will now have to pay a fee to do so. There are three advantages to this policy.
First, congestion pricing gets more people to use public transportation. By raising the cost of using the roadways, individuals are encouraged not to drive. Instead, they are encouraged to find alternative means of transportation such as mass transit (trains, buses, subways), biking, and walking. Getting more individuals to give up driving and start using public transportation will thereby reduce air pollution from vehicle emissions.
Second, congestion pricing, by taking more cars off the roadways, means faster commuting times for everyone. Drivers that decide to pay for the right to drive during peak periods will face less traffic and can reduce the time spent in their daily commute. Similarly, with less overall congestion, buses will also be able to reach their destinations more quickly.
Third, congestion pricing is essentially an equitable solution that will benefit the majority. This policy will only punish those who choose to pollute the air. By increasing the cost to pollute, more people will choose not to; therefore, everyone will benefit with cleaner air.
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AUDIO TRANSCRIPT OF THE LECTURE
Professor: Many people talk about congestion pricing as the best solution to the problems of overcrowding and pollution in our cities. Well, while the policy has its advantages, by itself it is not the best solution and does not live up to its promises. Let me explain why.
First of all, congestion pricing will not necessarily encourage more people to use public transportation. This is because, in many cities, the public transportation systems are not extensive enough to meet increased demand. In other words, buses and subways don't go to every neighborhood, and that means that even if you don't want to drive your car, you have no choice because there's no public transportation in your neighborhood. That's a problem,
A second point I would like to make is that congestion pricing will not automatically result in faster commutes like proponents say it will. It doesn't mean that you can get to and from work in less time. This may be true for some people, but more than likely, once your city implements congestion pricing, you will actually spend more time going to and from work. Why? Well, because, as more people use public transportation, trains and buses get more crowded. That means you wait longer before you can even get on the bus or train.
Third, congestion pricing will not benefit everyone. It’s not that simple. Sure, some people will choose to drive to work because it is more convenient. And congestion pricing will certainly tax those individuals for driving. But what about the individuals who have no other choice? Many workers cannot afford to live in the city or near public transportation lines because housing in those areas is too expensive. Those individuals must drive to work, and many of them are from poor neighborhoods and have low-paying jobs. Congestion pricing will penalize them—force them to pay a much larger part of their budget for transportation and pollution. That is simply not a fair policy, and it certainly doesn’t benefit everyone. A better policy would be to expand public transportation, to build affordable housing closer to jobs, and to encourage businesses to allow more employees to work from home. Those are more effective long-term solutions that would get more cars off the streets and reduce pollution.
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SAMPLE ESSAY
"The lecture and the passage both discuss congestion pricing, a policy that charges people for driving during busy times of the day. While the passage says that congestion pricing is helpful, the lecturer argues that it is not a good idea.
According to the passage, the policy encourages people to use public transportation instead of cars, which will lead to less pollution. The lecturer points out that in some cities, buses don't go to all neighborhoods. As a result, many people will not be able to get around. Next, the passage claims that it makes travel faster because it eliminates traffic. However, the lecturer predicts that commute times will increase. Lastly, the passage states that congestion pricing is fair and beneficial to everybody. The lecturer shows that the policy puts additional financial stress on drivers who do not have a lot of extra money.
There are many issues surrounding congestion pricing. The lecture and passage both present some of the issues."
