Online Dynamic Pricing of HOT Lanes Based on Corridor Simulation of Short-Term Future Traffic Conditions

A flexible simulation framework was designed for the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario to facilitate the evaluation of High-Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lanes. This framework implements dynamic HOT lane pricing based on the simulation of short-term future traffic conditions in both the HOT lane and the adjacent general-purpose lanes. The pricing algorithm attempts to simultaneously maximize utilization of the HOT lane and maintain a specified minimum average speed. The framework is oriented to on-line operation although self-learning functionality maintains a pricing “look-up” table for back-up or standalone use. Dual, interconnected simulation instances in the AIMSUN environment maintain a reference traffic state and evaluate alternative toll-rate strategies for the next time interval. Critical elements of the framework, including the simulation environment and the pricing algorithm, were implemented and tested in the context of a hypothetical conversion of existing High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to HOT lanes in three corridors in the Greater Toronto Area. Results observed for this initial implementation of the framework were encouraging, given a constrained and complex environment, although there is headroom for further enhancement.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB35 Managed Lanes. Alternate tilte: On-Line Dynamic Pricing of HOT Lanes Based on Corridor Simulation of Short-Term Future Traffic Conditions.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Nikolic, Goran
  • Pringle, Rob
  • Jacob, Celine
  • Mendonca, Natalie
  • Bekkers, Mark
  • Torday, Alexandre
  • Rinelli, Paolo
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; High occupancy toll lanes; Pricing; Simulation
• Identifier Terms: AIMSUN (Computer model); Ontario Ministry of Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dynamic pricing; Traffic conditions
• Geographic Terms: Toronto Metropolitan Area
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01552964
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-0253
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 7 2015 3:14PM