LA transportation officials look to reduce traffic through 'congestion pricing'

EXPOSITION PARK, Calif. (FOX 11) - Los Angeles drivers could soon have to pay a price in order to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is planning to have a study looking into how congestion pricing could be implemented in the country's second most populated city.

There is already a modest form of this at the 110 and 10 freeways, but the study would look into it as a whole.

Among the suggestions are converting carpool lanes to toll lanes, tax drivers based on how many miles they travel and charge a fee to drive through neighborhoods and business districts.

Gilberto Perez, who says he has seen traffic worsen since he moved to LA 12 years ago, said he would pay a fee to spend less time on the freeway.

"It's too much traffic right now. Some people crazy. Need to go home," he said.

Brandon Archibald wasn't a fan. The 20-year-old college student commuted daily from downtown to Moorpark for school.

"I don't want to be taking the train or the bus every time I go somewhere," he explained.

MTA reports the pricing could speed up bus service and bring in billions of dollars in revenue.

Mayor Eric Garcetti was interested in discussing the option but was not completely on board.

"Do we do it by neighborhood? Do we do it by freeway? Do we do it at all? How does it hit folks who depend--because there's no public transition and they're just skating by and can barely afford the gas and insurance?"

Another challenge MTA would face would be convincing drivers to hop on board.

According to MTA, 3 out of 4 commuters drive alone to work and many do not embrace public transportation or carpooling.

But with no signs of the population in LA slowing down, motorist Robin Bassi believes many people would reconsider as a way to speed traffic up.

"I think if they implement it well, they can. If you implement anything well, it will work out."

Next month MTA board of directors will be asked to approve this study and round up experts to examine congestion pricing in LA.

The process could take about two years.