Road Fees Don't Hurt the Poor as Much as You Might Think

High-occupancy toll lanes, which charge single drivers a usage fee but are (typically) free to carpoolers, are popping up in metropolitan areas all over the country. The reasons are numerous but largely come down to money: HOT lanes are relatively inexpensive to create, and they generate their own revenue. At a time when all levels of government are struggling to fund transportation, that's a recipe for popularity.

But a lingering question with regard to HOT lanes is whether or not they're fair to the poor. Simply put, is it equitable to charge a road fee that high-income drivers will be more capable of paying, especially when that road was once free to the public? This is the old "Lexus lanes" dilemma, and alliteration aside, it's a tricky one.