Title

Evaluating Effects Of Toll Strategies On Route Diversion And Travel Times For Origin-Destination Pairs In A Regional Transportation Network

Abstract

Congestion on freeway facilities is a growing menace. Interstate 4 (1-4) in the Central Florida region has been experiencing delays during peak hour; this has warranted research on traffic management strategies. The public, through the media, had proposed removing tolls on state toll roads to divert traffic from 1-4. A microsimulation model, Paramics, was used to examine the potential impact of this proposal. SR-417 is a relatively uncongested toll road alternative to 1-4. SR-528 is the east-west toll road connecting SR-417 and 1-4. Commuters on SR-417 have to travel 15 mi longer and pay $5 compared with no monetary cost on 1-4 for the same trip. The public and politicians are reluctant to toll 1-4 to relieve congestion. The results from the simulation indicated that under recurring congestion conditions on 1-4, removing tolls on SR-417 and SR-528 would not divert enough traffic from 1-4 because of the 15-mi advantage. Under incident and lane closure scenarios on 1-4 with toll reduction on SR-417 and SR-528, the travel time would increase on 1-4. This result would prompt some diversion, with volumes and travel times increasing on SR-417. It was concluded that the amount of traffic that would be diverted from 1-4 to the toll roads would not significantly relieve congestion on 1-4. When specific origin-destination pairs were analyzed, average travel time savings on 1-4 were only around 5 min. It was concluded that contrary to the media and public perception, toll reduction would only have a minimum impact on reducing 1-4 congestion.

Publication Date

12-1-2007

Publication Title

Transportation Research Record

Issue

2035

Number of Pages

205-215

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.3141/2035-23

Socpus ID

39449097239 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/39449097239

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS