Design Elements of Road Pricing Schemes and Their Acceptability

One key factor for the successful introduction of a road pricing scheme is its electoral acceptability, which is in turn strongly affected by its design. This is even more true in Switzerland, where any major policy change has to be approved by a majority of the voters in a referendum. An extensive stated preference (SP) survey about the acceptability of different design elements was included in a study about the impact of possible transport pricing schemes on passengers’ travel behavior conducted on behalf of the Swiss federal government. The results of the acceptability survey are presented in this paper. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of various scheme elements on acceptability. The proposed charging level is the most important factor. Distance-based motorway tolls and km-dependent tolls for all roads are the preferred pricing types, in contrast to area licensing and time-dependent tolls. In connection with the discussion on the use of the revenues, replacing the existing pricing mechanisms, the fuel tax and motorway vignette, was the least liked option even though it would lower costs for the individual. However, the most favored alternative is investment in public transport, followed by reductions in income tax and a bonus-malus system that redistributes the revenues directly back to the Swiss population.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: CD-ROM
  • Features: Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 19p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01055814
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 07-1548
  • Files: BTRIS, TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Aug 28 2007 10:56AM