[lostnet]

The US town I last worked in was not at all happy about the traffic externalities of office space. Their attempt to remedy it were complex and entailed a lot of overhead for everyone. Surveys, building restrictions, reimbursement plans, etc.

A tax system could simply charge employers based on the commutes of all employees and offer free to board public transit. Then it could stop allowing commute expense to be deducted in the covered areas..

I find tolls to be a little backward since virtually everyone traveling during the max capacity times can deduct them, while leasure travelers can not.

[nickff]

Why should employers be responsible for the transit habits of their employees? Does this not also increase the cost of employment, thereby decreasing the employee's income?

From what I can see, this would be a hidden tax on the employee, which violates the principle that democracy requires maximum possible transparency.

[lostnet]

> Why should employers be responsible for the transit habits of their employees?

Because an employer is responsible for the transit habits of an employee which determines the capacity and cost of major arteries.

We have payed for these roads at the federal level first for the defense and now to allow the DOT to bully everyone. Transparent, eh?

[lmm]

In a world where we could measure everything for free we would charge employees directly for the externalities of their commute (e.g. the road space they consume). Since this is not practical we make the best approximations we can.