Who's gonna pay?

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Sometimes it seems like SoCal's about ready to stop moving all together. According to recent surveys, traffic congestion is residents' top gripe in San Diego and Los Angeles.

In San Diego, the South Bay Expressway is set to open soon. A hard-hatted local news reporter braved the construction zone to explain that officials addressed part of the "Who's gonna pay?" question by allowing the private sector to build the toll road. Now it's up to motorists to decide if they're gonna pay the toll.

Up the road in Orange County, KPCC (local NPR) highlighted another approach-Transit Oriented Development-which traditionally breaks ground with the help of hefty public subsidies.

I was interviewed for part 1 , which aired yesterday. In part 2 we hear from artists and yoga instructors who want a touch of Manhattan in OC. They like their new high-density digs and their hip neighbors (no minivaners in this group). But do they drive less?

Bradley: Unfortunately, we don't drive less. And you know, there's actually a train stop fairly close to my office.

Valot: In fact, a five-minute walk from his office. But Chris Bradley says the train's too expensive for just a couple of stops.

[Sound of Bradley saying good-bye to his friends]

Valot: Bradley's neighbors don't take the train either - other than an occasional trip to an art gallery in L.A. or dinner in San Clemente.

Any different in LA?

And can't forget to pimp my book (co-authored with Sam Staley), which explores these issues in more detail.

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