VPP Projects Involving Tolls
Category: Priced Roadways
Sub-Category: Priced Tollways
Project - NEW JERSEY: Variable Tolls on Port Authority Interstate Crossings
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) adopted a variable toll strategy for users of the electronic toll collection system (E-ZPass) in March 2001. The Port Authority provides a 20 percent ($1.00) discount for off-peak tolls on its bridges and tunnels crossing the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. Peak toll rates are effective on weekdays form 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m., as well as on weekends from 12 Noon to 8 p.m. An estimated 125.2 million vehicles used the tunnels and bridges in 2002, and approximately 62 million interstate bus passengers use the interstate crossings annually.
The data indicates that 35 out of 505 (representing 6.93% of individuals and 7.4% of car trips) individuals changed behavior after the Time of Day Pricing Initiative. The analyses indicate that users responded in a combination of ways to the new toll schedule. This includes: decreased travel by car; increased use of transit (2.6%); increased use of transit plus increased carpooling (1.8%); decreased number of trips during peak and increased off peak trips (1.5%); and decreased number of trips during both peak and off peak (1.3%).
The analyses were conducted using a data set collected for another purpose for the PANYNJ. It indicated that among E-ZPass users who were aware of the off-peak discount program, 16% had changed their travel schedules to enjoy the off-peak discounts. This represented 7.68% of the E-ZPass users and 5.33% of the total number of users. The data also suggested that carriers were responsive to receivers' desires in terms of delivery times. Ninety-three percent of the carriers that indicated they couldn't change delivery times, cited receivers' opposition as the key factor.
Study Completed
The final report was completed in March 2005. It can be accessed on the FHWA Highway Community Exchange Web site at: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/hcx.nsf/384aefcefc48229e85256a71004b24e0/f28934ff571ff3c685256db10063e81b?OpenDocument.
For More Information Contact
José Holguín-Veras, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street Building JEC 4030
Troy NY 12180-3590
E-mail: jhv@rpi.edu
Mark F. Muriello
Assistant Director
Tunnels Bridges and Terminals Department
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
One Madison Avenue - 5th Floor
New York, NY 10010
E-mail: mmuriello@panynj.gov
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