The Impact of Real-Time Information on Route Choice Between a Toll Highway and a Free Competing Alternative

In the field of road transport, Advanced Traveler Information Systems represent a relevant tool to manage road traffic, improve drivers’ utility and make a more efficient use of transport infrastructure. As en-route information is gaining importance due to the increase in new in-vehicle devices and mobile traffic applications, it is important to understand better its influence on drivers’ behavior, particularly with regard to route choice. Previous research in this field has mainly focused on the provision of en-route real-time information in toll-free environments. However, few researches have explored its influence when a tolled alternative is available. This paper is aimed at exploring the influence of variable message signs (VMS) information on drivers’ route choice, made between a free highway and a competing tolled alternative. To that end, the authors develop two binary logit models based on detailed traffic data within a point of diversion between two alternative routes in the metropolitan area of Madrid, Spain. The models determine significant differences in traffic diversion depending on the type of information displayed through VMS when one of the alternatives is tolled. Furthermore, some combinations of messages, such as adding travel time estimates together with incident messages, greatly increase the diversion rate to the tolled route.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB20 Standing Committee on Effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Travel Choices.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Romero, Fernando
  • Gomez, Juan
  • Rangel, Thais
  • Vassallo, José Manuel
  • Jurado-Piña, Rafael
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 98th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2019-1-13 to 2019-1-17
• Date: 2019

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Behavior; Real time information; Route choice; Toll roads; Traffic control; Variable message signs
• Geographic Terms: Madrid (Spain)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01697774
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 19-01880
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 1 2019 3:51PM