By Ken Storey
Central Florida's regional transportation partnership Metroplan Orlando released information on one of their recently launched research projects. The project is looking at the public's opinions on value pricing urban tolling. That is, charging money to use roads when those roads are congested during peak hours. The survey, which recently began, looks at how well congestion pricing would do in the Orlando metro area.
London launched a successful congestion tolling system in 2003 that charges almost every motor vehicle that enters the Congestion Charge Zone that most of central London is in. Stockholm also has a similar model that's proven to be a success. San Francisco, who recently introduced a similar tolling model, expects congestion hours to decrease by 21%.
One of the successful aspects of other congestion tolling plans is that part of the funds are being used for mass transit and pedestrian initiatives. Central Florida public opinion research that Metroplan conducted earlier this year shows that 69% of respondents felt toll road revenues should be used to help pay for public transit initiatives. Just over 55% also agreed with the statement that "we will have to increase funding through taxes and/or fees."
Congestion tolling would push some traffic to off-peak hours. The report also seems to show that Metroplan itself is leaning towards the concept with pretty powerful statements used to explain what Congestion Pricing, or Value Pricing as the report calls it, is. "By removing even five percent of the vehicles from a congested roadway, pricing enables the system to flow much more efficiently, allowing more cars to move through the same physical space. There is a consensus among economists that congestion pricing represents the single most viable and sustainable approach to reducing traffic congestion."
Variable-rate tolls, in which the toll fluctuates based on congestion levels, another feature of most Congestion Charge Zones will be included in the updated Interstate 4. The tolls will be added only on new lanes, keeping all current lanes free. The new toll lanes will help pay for the remodel of the road while also cutting down on congestion. The system here is modeled after a similar system that was put in place over the last few years along I-95 throughout South Florida.
Central Florida's regional transportation partnership Metroplan Orlando released information on one of their recently launched research projects. The project is looking at the public's opinions on value pricing urban tolling. That is, charging money to use roads when those roads are congested during peak hours. The survey, which recently began, looks at how well congestion pricing would do in the Orlando metro area.
London launched a successful congestion tolling system in 2003 that charges almost every motor vehicle that enters the Congestion Charge Zone that most of central London is in. Stockholm also has a similar model that's proven to be a success. San Francisco, who recently introduced a similar tolling model, expects congestion hours to decrease by 21%.
One of the successful aspects of other congestion tolling plans is that part of the funds are being used for mass transit and pedestrian initiatives. Central Florida public opinion research that Metroplan conducted earlier this year shows that 69% of respondents felt toll road revenues should be used to help pay for public transit initiatives. Just over 55% also agreed with the statement that "we will have to increase funding through taxes and/or fees."
Congestion tolling would push some traffic to off-peak hours. The report also seems to show that Metroplan itself is leaning towards the concept with pretty powerful statements used to explain what Congestion Pricing, or Value Pricing as the report calls it, is. "By removing even five percent of the vehicles from a congested roadway, pricing enables the system to flow much more efficiently, allowing more cars to move through the same physical space. There is a consensus among economists that congestion pricing represents the single most viable and sustainable approach to reducing traffic congestion."
Variable-rate tolls, in which the toll fluctuates based on congestion levels, another feature of most Congestion Charge Zones will be included in the updated Interstate 4. The tolls will be added only on new lanes, keeping all current lanes free. The new toll lanes will help pay for the remodel of the road while also cutting down on congestion. The system here is modeled after a similar system that was put in place over the last few years along I-95 throughout South Florida.
 |
| Image via Metroplan Orlando's facebook |