# What This Bill Does

This bill would ban a specific type of road pricing system called "congestion pricing" or "cordon pricing" from being used on highways and roads across the country. Right now, the federal government allows states and cities to experiment with charging drivers extra fees during busy times or in certain areas as a way to reduce traffic and raise money for road improvements. This bill would eliminate that option entirely.

# How Congestion Pricing Works (And Why It Matters)

To understand what's being banned, imagine a busy highway during rush hour. Under congestion pricing, drivers would pay a fee to use that road during peak traffic times—similar to how some toll roads work. The idea is that higher prices discourage some people from driving during the busiest hours, which reduces congestion and keeps traffic flowing better. Cities like New York have considered or implemented these programs. The money collected typically goes toward public transportation or road maintenance. By passing this bill, Congress would prevent any new programs like this from starting and would shut down any existing ones.

# Who Gets Affected

This mainly affects people in urban areas where cities or states have considered or implemented congestion pricing programs. Drivers in those areas would no longer face variable pricing based on traffic conditions. However, it also affects city planners and transportation officials who lose a tool they could use to manage traffic and fund transportation improvements. The bill essentially takes a one-size-fits-all approach by saying no part of the country can use this pricing method, even if local leaders think it would help their specific traffic problems.

To amend the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 to prohibit congestion or cordon pricing in a value pricing program, and for other purposes.

Malliotakis, Nicole

<p>This bill prohibits the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)&nbsp;from establishing or maintaining a value pricing program under the FHWA's&nbsp;Value Pricing Pilot Program that includes value pricing, congestion pricing, or cordon pricing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In general, value pricing, also referred to as congestion pricing, includes a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways and surface streets (e.g., charging drivers on congested roadways&nbsp;during peak periods). Cordon pricing&nbsp;is a form of congestion pricing that includes&nbsp;a zone-based pricing system that involves either variable or fixed charges to drive within or into a congested area within a city.</p>