A TRANSPORTATION AGENDA FOR THE 21ST CENTURY: IV. PAYING FOR THE USE OF ROADS THAT OFFER A PREMIUM LEVEL OF SERVICE. COMMENTARY

This commentary explores why the application of peak period pricing to transportation--better known as congestion pricing--has met with little success in this country. Congestion pricing is seen as a deliberate attempt to penalize people for driving in peak periods or on congested roads. To some, value pricing is merely a synonym for congestion pricing. However, most people agree that there is a fundamental difference between the two concepts. Value pricing is voluntary; congestion pricing in mandatory. The two value pricing projects in California--the SR91 Express Lanes, and the Interstate 15 corridor north of San Diego, where an underutilized high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane was converted to a value-priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane--are thriving. Value pricing and HOT lanes may be but an early sign of a changing transportation paradigm. As existing roads in urban areas become more congested and highway travel becomes increasingly slower and less reliable, a demand will emerge for a premium level of highway service. The commentary asserts that there are plenty of people and businesses who will be willing to pay for this level of service.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/1071393X
• Corporate Authors:

  Urban Mobility Corporation

  1634 I Street, NW, Suite 500
  Washington, DC  United States  20006-4003
• Publication Date: 2000-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 2 p.
• Serial:
  • Innovation Briefs
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Urban Mobility Corporation
  • ISSN: 1071-393X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Congestion management systems; Congestion pricing; High occupancy toll lanes; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Road pricing; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow; Utilization; Value of service pricing
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Research; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00792359
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 16 2000 12:00AM