It’s almost as if they are trying to prove that my April Fool’s satire isn’t far off. Shortly after the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) released a study suggesting tolls on the region’s major highways, the National Park Service called tolls “not prudent”.

Certainly it’s likely that existing law doesn’t allow tolls, but unless the WTOP article misquotes Regional Director Joseph Lawler, he’s not just unable to implement them today, he’s against them. I can see why—after all, if hundreds of thousands of commuters carpool, take transit, telecommute, or otherwise reduce driving, how will people enjoy our beautiful parkways?

David Alpert created Greater Greater Washington in 2008 and was its executive director until 2020. He formerly worked in tech and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco Bay, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He lives with his wife and two children in Dupont Circle.