DC's problem, as always, is one of congestion and access. If we sidestep the tax burden ('we paid for it therefore we should be able to use it without charge')

DC's problem, as always, is one of congestion and access. If we sidestep the tax burden ('we paid for it therefore we should be able to use it without charge') issue, there's a fairly typical large-city congestion problem, which is exacerbated by the lack of affordable housing in the immediate area. The DMV area as a whole, especially the immediately DC-adjacent regions of Maryland and Virginia, is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. There are people commuting into DC from West Virginia(!). There's a fair argument for a congestion charge, as has been implemented in major cities (London and Singapore to name a couple), but the question then is one of access - the Metro (subway) system is good for America, but absolutely abysmal for the population density that it needs to serve. It doesn't help that the population is fairly spread out once you get further out as well.