Talking Headways Podcast: Subsidizing Congestion With Commuter Tax Benefits
This week we’re joined by Tony Dutzik of the Frontier Group and Steven Higashide of TransitCenter to discuss their new report, "Who Pays for Parking?" - an incisive critique of federal commuter tax benefits.
By
Jeff Wood
2:57 PM EDT on October 9, 2017
This week we’re joined by Tony Dutzik of the Frontier Group and Steven Higashide of TransitCenter to discuss their new report, “Who Pays for Parking?” The report is an incisive critique of federal commuter tax benefits — specifically the parking benefit, a $7.3 billion annual subsidy that mainly adds incentive for high earners to drive to work in the most congested cities at the most congested times of day.
We discuss the origins of these parking tax subsidies, who benefits from them, and which cities are taking a different approach to parking incentives.
Jeff Wood is the creator of the Talking Headways podcast and editor of the newsletter The Overhead Wire.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: The Three Ingredients to a Great Trick-or-Treating Neighborhood
...and how your neighborhood can use good planning and community engagement to get more walkable long past spooky season.
October 30, 2026
Friday’s Headlines (Except Spooky)
Your annual reminder that letting kids safely roam around their neighborhood is not the top priority.
October 30, 2026
Five Simple Hacks to Avoid L.A. City Speed Camera Tickets
Nobody ever tells you about hack number 2! You'll never believe it!
October 29, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Architecture Won’t Save a Bad Street
"We have accommodated car convenience over people for five decades — and we need to correct that," says today's guest.
October 29, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Live in an Endless Summer
Parts of the country are in the 80s in late October, but sure, let's spew some more methane into the air.
October 29, 2026
