A Glimpse of Public Attitudes toward Tolling through Washington State’s Comprehensive Tolling Study

In 2007, the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge span will be the first toll road operating in Washington State since 1985. To help guide Washington through the complicated policy issues surrounding the use of tolls, a comprehensive tolling study was commissioned. This paper describes this tolling study and its results. Recommendations based on the findings are summarized. For the study, background research was conducted on the toll industry and transportation in Washington State. Stakeholders were interviewed, and focus groups and public attitude surveys were conducted. Illustrative tolling examples were conducted and analyzed. Based on the results, eight policy recommendations were developed. These recommendations addressed issues related to: the overall direction of transportation planning in Washington State, when to use tolling, use of toll revenue, setting toll rates, duration of toll collection, state toll authority to set toll policy, implementation of toll policy by the Washington State Department of Transportation, and toll collection systems.

• Authors:
  • Buxbaum, Jeffrey N
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 51-65
• Serial:
  • Tollways
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Focus groups; Policy making; Public opinion; Recommendations; Research projects; Surveys; Toll collection; Toll roads; Tolls; Transportation planning; Transportation policy
• Geographic Terms: Washington (State)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Research; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01088723
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 25 2008 2:35PM