In a few places around the world--such as downtown London--drivers pay higher tolls for entering city centers at peak rush hour. The idea of "congestion pricing" is to reduce traffic and pollution by giving drivers an incentive to travel at off-peak times.
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In a computer model showing hypothetical implementation of credit-based congestion pricing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the thickest lines show a 25 mph increase in average vehicle speed on certain stretches of road during the afternoon rush period. (Credit: Kara Kockelman)
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Now a professor at the University of Texas at Austin has shown how a complex extension of this idea could greatly speed up rush-hour traffic flow throughout an entire network of highways and secondary roads in a U.S. metropolitan region. Using a computer model of driver behavior on the freeway system around the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, University of Texas civil engineer Kara Kockelman showed that imposing highway tolls wirelessly--and increasing those tolls sharply on heavily traveled roads during peak times--would induce enough people to change their plans to increase average travel speeds by 25 miles per hour during rush hours on many key stretches of highway. The computer model takes into account everything from the frequency of trips to the value that drivers place on saving time.
Under the scheme, cars would be monitored with radio-frequency identification (RFID) or global positioning system (GPS) technologies that would track where and when they are driven. Drivers would pay mileage-based and location-based tolls on a sliding scale: up to 20 cents per mile for driving through bottleneck stretches at the busiest times.
Kockelman says such simple market mechanisms can solve traffic problems without requiring the construction of new roadways. "Meeting travel needs is largely a function of sending appropriate pricing signals to travelers," she says. "We can allow them to make their own decisions, rather than having to expand capacity in our nation's already extensive roadway networks."
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Comments
2. Some people will explode if they are forced into peak time due to a traffic accident, say.
But it is worth a try.
Bill
davanzo
08/29/2006
Posts:1
Dave
demyhr
08/29/2006
Posts:1
It might also be interesting if they did install this system if a company that refuses to allow their employees (who are eligible) to either work from home or work odd hours had the charges passed onto them, instead of on the individual. At my company they just removed the work-at-home option from the entire corporation because the new President didn't like the feel of the partially empty office...nevermind the fact that productivity dropped quite a bit because of it.
deirdrebeth
08/29/2006
Posts:25
cordero
09/08/2006
Posts:2
dukeofshoe
08/29/2006
Posts:2
I think there are more issues that would have bearing on the traffic pattern.
Some people have to travel at certain times, some people prefer to travel at a certain time.
A more complex issue is what the money collected would be used for? The 'free' highways are funded via tax dollars or Gas taxes. Most people would look for a reduction in some other highway tax to offeset this - otherwise it becomes an additional tax.
I don;t see how this does not favor more affluent people. We've seen recently that the record high price of gas didn't change much - either in vehicle choice or time spent traveling by car. People who can, just pay more. Here in the northeast, I don't think there would be enough people who would avoid the cost, they would just continue to drive during peak times.
But, if you are on a limited or low income, you could be forced to drive at a time that is inconveinent or detremintal to their job or home life.
And finally, what happens if some communters don't sign up for the system, or are from out of state? In high tourist areas, that would be common.
rtx77
08/29/2006
Posts:1
Bottom line, this won't reduce the number of cars on the road. It will redistribute those on the road in two ways. As argued by the article, some drivers will change their driving schedules. In addition, some drivers will move from the interstates onto local roads until the local roads are sufficiently clogged to make them unappealing.
I like that people are thinking about this problem, and this might be in the right direction, but this isn't the solution.
Brian
joneswak
08/29/2006
Posts:1
BTW the US embassy refuses to pay the London congestion charge, viewing it as a 'tax'. British embassy vehicles in the US are of course subject to road tolls like everyone else - go figure!
chrisjmiller
08/29/2006
Posts:26
It's about tracking where every single car goes in the uk all the time. They already have a national network of number-plate scanners (what did you think those blue posts on the motorway were).
They already tried to get this through parliament once and it was shot down, they'll keep trying till it gets in.
Big brother has been with us for a long time, it's about time we tell him to stop. Write to your MP to stop our cars being constantly tracked by satellite. And that you oppose the ID cards linked to a database with all our records.
idontcare
08/29/2006
Posts:1
dukeofshoe
08/30/2006
Posts:2
A good aftermarket niche could crop up with an intent on disabling such systems for those who value their privacy (ie: individual freedom).
cordero
09/08/2006
Posts:2
slowfast
08/29/2006
Posts:1
Also, don't forget how the government abuses the US highway system. It was initially designed for travel at 70-75 mph, even considering the clunky cars of the '60s. Today's cars are far safer, and they could easily be used for safe driving at 80 mph. Yet as we all know, the speed limits have been ever more restrictive, even getting down to 55mph in some places. It is an open secret, that the gov. uses this as a cash cow, and it has nothing to do with "safety".
This new "congestion tax" system would be abused in similar ways. And who is to say that congestions may not be artificially triggered, just to make some extra cash? If the incentive is there, they will invent something to make it happen.
gabrielg01
08/29/2006
Posts:402
mkogrady
08/31/2006
Posts:206
Splinter
08/29/2006
Posts:1
helvecio
08/30/2006
Posts:1
It is a mismanaged and ineffective gov. program (surpised?). The subways and buses are very often late. They are stinky, full of trash, and crowded with rude and crazy people - everyone knows the stereotypes: the guy(s) who did not take a shower in 3 months; the psycho woman who screams on the cellphone that you can hear her discussion from the other end of the car; the iPod zombies; the white-trash baseball fanatic who thinks everyone is their friend, and above all interested in the latest scores; the homeless who use the trains as their shelter; the lost tourists with their maps in their hand - they have the talent of blocking your way when the train is late, and you need to keep an appointment...and on and on it goes.
Besides there is a never ending stream of breakdowns (and excuses on part of the officials)...if there is a torrential rain, then some wires get shorted; if it is too hot, then the rails are deformed; if it's snowing, then some godamn switch gets frozen or jammed.
And they always seem to be in total financial crisis, always asking for more tax money, and more fare hikes...even though no one seems to be doing their job well.
Finally, these public transportaion systems are the perfect sitting ducks for terrorists. Enough said.
gabrielg01
08/30/2006
Posts:402
flatwheel
09/04/2006
Posts:1
NYC subway? Give me a break. Even after Giuliani's cleanup programs, it is still a mess.
In the European subways you must watch out for hordes of pickpockets.
Yes, subways are efficient at shuttling people around, but they are awful in terms of comfort and safety. I thought technology was supposed to make our lives better. It all depends on your personal standards - if the subway is good for you, go for it. I can't wait to get back to commuting by car.
Watch this movie on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGsaaKMBJ2M
gabrielg01
09/04/2006
Posts:402
thellon
01/02/2007
Posts:1