Principal investigator. Dr. Ken Button, George Mason, 703-993-4647, kbutton@gmu.edu
External contact. none
Project objective. To identify those situations where it is politically feasible to institute road (value) pricing, with its great opportunity to achieve economic efficiencies
Project abstract. Road pricing, sometimes called congestion pricing or value pricing, aims to apportion scarce road space by market pricing rather than queuing. As increasing population densities in growing metropolitan areas press on available resources, pricing has been used to deal with land, communications facilities, public transportation service, waste disposal, and building construction. But in the case of roads queuing, not pricing, apportions available capacity. Value pricing could correct this anomaly. Road pricing can also provide useful information to motorists about congestion, as, for example, SR 91 in Southern California, by continuously adjusting toll rates to reflect congestion levels, the system communicates to motorists approaching the route just how bad congestion ahead is. At the same time, there is at present widespread political resistance to road pricing. This study will examine issues of political feasibility of road pricing.
Tasks. 1) To identify examples of road pricing around the world as an initial database. 2) To prepare a white paper outlining proposed long-term research agenda on road pricing as it would apply to Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth. 3) To carry out research as indicated in task 2.
Milestones. The initial database will be completed by June 30, 2000. The research agenda will be completed by Dec. 31, 2000.
Student involvement. One GRA will be used part-time the first year.
Budget. $260,000
Relationship to other research projects. No immediate relationship.
Technology transfer. Publication of research findings in professional journals.
Potential benefits. In the long term, road pricing has the greatest potential for relieving congestion of any ITS technology currently under consideration, because it would transform the driving habits of most motorists. This project is designed to help move forward this major new strategy.
TRB keywords. ITS, road pricing