| CONGESTION PRICING
congestion pricing,
or congestion pricing, includes a range of different tools
that center on the theme of using peak-period tolls to
reduce urban traffic congestion. Because tolls are charged
only on congested roads and only during peak periods,
drivers are given a direct financial incentive to find
different routes, modes, or times of day to travel.
Current implementations of this idea include varying
tolls by time of day on existing toll roads and bridges;
and allowing solo drivers to buy access to high-occupancy
vehicle lanes, at a toll that varies so as to keep these
lanes free flowing.
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Project description
The current project has two main objectives: educating policy
makers and the public about congestion pricing (both locally and nationally),
and developing a technical description and political support for
a congestion pricing demonstration project in Minnesota.
Electronic tolling technology, which makes it possible to assess
fees without stopping traffic, has been available and reliable
for several years. Thus the major barrier to implementing congestion pricing is political. Much of the work of this project focuses
around showing how popular concerns can be addressed, both in
general and within the context of specific projects.
A new project will study the effects of applying a mileage-based
fee directly to participating vehicles, rather than to the roads
they drive on. This fee would be levied in lieu of other, more
fixed or hidden charges such as vehicle registration or the gas
tax.
Major accomplishments
- Congestion Pricing: A Cross-Case Synthesis of Lessons Learned,
paper by Jennifer DuBord, presented at TRB 2001
- Convened and held four meetings of a citizen advisory task
force, culminating in a proposal for a demonstration project,
and in a summary report, Curbing Congestion
- Sponsored several major national conferences on congestion pricing,
both for professionals in the field and for the general public
- Developed and maintain a major congestion pricing web site (www.valuepricing.org)
and listserv
History
This project follows much earlier research dating back to the
early 1990s. These efforts have included theoretical analyses
of the effects of pricing, production of the video "Buying
Time," citizen outreach and survey efforts, and earlier attempts
to develop a demonstration project. SLPP has also been the primary
organizer of many regional and national congestion pricing conferences
over this time.
Vital stats
This is a three-year joint project with Mn/DOT, sponsored by
the FHWA Congestion Pricing Program, ending in fall 2002. The new mileage-based
fee project will continue until fall 2005.
Contact: Lee
Munnich, 612-625-7357, munni001@umn.edu. |
