Road pricing: an assessment

Road pricing is used to mitigate traffic congestion or to recover an investment in infrastructure. The different methods of road pricing are explained: toll roads, congestion pricing (value pricing), high occupancy toll, cordon (area tolls), road space rationing, or vehicle use fees. Road pricing can be implemented by public or private agencies or local authorities at various scales: point pricing, facility pricing, corridor pricing, cordon pricing and regional pricing. The impact of road pricing is considered with reference to vehicle travel, travel times, modal shift, trip value, traffic volumes and trip lengths. The benefits and costs of road pricing are discussed with reference to congestion reduction, safety, communities, equity, and transport for disadvantaged people. The relationship between road pricing and travel demand management is considered. Barriers and best practices for the implementation of road pricing are discussed. Examples of road pricing are presented: London congestion charge, UK; I-15 electronic high occupancy toll lanes in San Diego, USA; State Route 91 express toll lanes in Orange County, California, USA; Norwegian cordon tolls; and Singapore congestion pricing. The introduction of road pricing in India is outlined.