An Optimization Model for Roadway Pricing on Rural Freeways

The main objective of rural roadway pricing is revenue generation, rather than elimination of congestion externalities. This report presents a model that provides optimum tolls accounting for pavement deterioration and economic impacts. This model contains multiple components, because imposing tolls creates “ripple effects” on traffic flow: changing traffic movements, which changes pavement deterioration rates, maintenance schedules, and spending in local economies. The model described here also allows differential pricing for different types of vehicles. Due to the discontinuity of the formulation, simulated annealing is used to find tolls on selected roadway arcs. This model is demonstrated on a network representing the state of Wyoming, along with some discussion of the issues raised by the model’s recommendations.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=720
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/24185
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Wyoming, Laramie

  1000 E University Avenue
  Laramie, WY  United States  82071-3295

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Boyles, Stephen D
  • Saha, Promothes
• Publication Date: 2012-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 67p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Deterioration; Economic impacts; Freeways; Optimization; Road pricing; Rural highways; Tolls; Traffic flow
• Geographic Terms: Wyoming
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I10: Economics and Administration; I71: Traffic Theory;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01371310
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC Report No. 11-246
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 30 2012 3:00PM