Value Pricing Pilot Program
Variable Pricing Study of the GA 400 Corridor: Project Fact Sheet Winter 2008
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Each year the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) produces the Urban Mobility report ranking the nations cities in terms of congestion. In its 2007 report TTI named Atlanta traffic the second worst in the nation in terms of annual hours of delay per traveler1. Variable pricing, one of several tools being considered by local transportation officials to address area congestion, is a toll system in which toll rates are set based on the level of roadway congestion. The goal is to encourage motorists who have the flexibility to travel during less congested times to do so through reduced tolls. Tolls would increase at typically congested hours (rush hours) and would
be reduced during less congested times (or shoulder hours). This system provides a financial incentive for motorists who have the flexibility to shift their travel time to less congested hours of the day. Ultimately, all users benefit from reduced congestion. Variable pricing also encourages the use of electronic toll collection systems, like the Cruise Card on GA 400, to reduce toll plaza delays. Variable pricing encourages efficient use of our transportation facilities.
Every road has a limit to how much traffic it can handle at one time. This is referred to as the roads capacity. When too many people travel at the same time (rush hour) capacity is quickly exceeded and traffic begins to slow. But in the off-hours before, after, and between peak travel times there is excess capacity not being used. Variable pricing helps recapture the value of unused capacity. It reduces congestion by encouraging those motorists with the flexibility to adjust their travel time by even a few minutes to travel in these off-peak hours. Shifting as little as 5% of the vehicles from congested hours can enable the system to flow much more efficiently, allowing more cars to move through the same physical space and avoid the need for costly expansion. |
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Variable pricing has been applied across the world and
in the US in several ways, including:
Area or Cordon Pricing:
To deal with traffic in heavily congested urban areas, cities like London and Singapore
have introduced area or cordon pricing. Under this system drivers pay a fee to enter
a predefined area of the city to discourage vehicular traffic and encourage pedestrian
and transit access. Though this has not yet been tried in the United States, there
have been proposals to try Cordon Pricing in certain areas of New York City.
Facility Pricing:
Pricing can vary by payment type or by time of day. Discounts are sometimes provided
for customers using an electronic toll card (like Georgias Cruise Card). Some toll
facilities that experience a high volume during the morning rush hours may offer
a discounted toll rate to drivers willing to travel in the hours before and after
the rush. Combinations of these two pricing options are also possible.
Express Toll Lanes:
Some toll-free facilities offer drivers the opportunity to pay a toll to use access
reserved lanes that do not have heavy delays during rush conditions.
Any of these approaches can be combined to offer drivers choice for saving money
and time while also reducing the long delays associated with traffic congestion. |
The goals of the GA 400 Variable Pricing Study include:
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Several key issues and challenges will be considered in the
study. The study will look at travelers willingness and ability to shift their travel time by both the amount of the toll price differential and the amount of time change required to achieve the savings. Results from some preliminary research conducted by survey on both GA 400 cash and Cruise Card customers are detailed below. Other issues to consider relate to traffic diversion. While the goal is to move traffic way from peak congested periods, it will be important to not to shift traffic
away from the toll road to alternative routes such as local roads. Another important consideration is the impact to shoulder periods, or those times of day directly before or after the peak times. Encouraging too many toll road patrons to shift to non-peak hours may result in shoulder hours becoming equally or more congested than the previous peaks.
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The GA 400 Variable Pricing study is funded through a U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) Grant and is not funded by any toll revenue. This program encourages the evaluation of pricing projects to address traffic congestion. SRTA currently has three studies under the Value Pricing Pilot Program.
 This chart shows the results of a survey of GA 400 toll users where drivers were asked how much time adjustment would they be willing to make given certain toll price discounts. |
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For more information, contact: Patrick Vu, SRTA 101 Marietta Street, Suite 2500, Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-893-6100, Fax: 404-893-6144 patrickvu@georgiatolls.com |
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