Environmental Defense Fund's (EDF) Living Cities Program: Analysis of Congestion Pricing to reduce traffic in Lower Manhattan

Students were asked to conduct research in three key areas to help this program.  One area was to identify alternative pricing mechanisms for roads and bridges coming into Manhattan that would reduce traffic congestion, such as time of day tolling; and assess the potential impacts and benefits of such pricing policies, particularly on the quality of life and health of New York's residents.  A second area of research was to identify the best available technologies for implementing congestion pricing policies in Manhattan. Lastly, students conducted a comparison of other road pricing policies, such as London's recent efforts to impose fees on motorists driving into the central district.