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Report to Congress on the Value Pricing Pilot Program Through December 2020Printable version [PDF 2.5 MB]
February 16, 2022
The Honorable Peter A. DeFazio Dear Chair DeFazio: This letter constitutes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Report to Congress on the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) in accordance with the requirements of Section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Value pricing includes a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways and surface streets, including strategies not involving tolls. The following five broad types of pricing strategies have been studied or implemented in the United States:
While the program has continued, and its tolling authority is still being used in multiple jurisdictions, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act did not authorize additional discretionary grants funding. All but one VPPP project had been completed as of the submission of the 2018 Report to Congress. Nevertheless, formula Federal-aid highway funds, such as those through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, may and sometimes are being used to deploy pricing strategies subject to the eligibility requirements for these funds. The one ongoing VPPP project noted above represents a rural, resort-destination market-pricing parking project serving the popular SR-28 corridor in Lake Tahoe. The VPPP funding was provided to the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversaw the Tahoe Transportation District Project implementation. The project impetus was the parking shortage most acutely felt during peak summer weekends (14 of 24 million visitors to the Tahoe Basin come in July). Many visitors and tourists used to park on the shoulder of SR-28 and walk along the busy roadway to their destination (typically hiking trailhead or picnic), presenting a safety hazard and causing congestion. The project added free remote parking that connects to destinations through complimentary shuttles, re-tooling multi-hour or all-day parking that is demand priced (by season, day of week, and time of day), and strict enforcement including increased fine amounts (some had been as low as $5) of other parking rules (e.g., an SR-28 shoulder parking prohibition and very short time limits for overlook parking). In April 2020, hardware for demand-based parking pricing (i.e., 4 linked payment kiosks across 90 spaces in a linear parking facility) was installed at one important parking location, which launched during the summer 2020 tourist season. Since the submission of the 2018 VPPP Report to Congress, the Illinois, New York, Oregon, and Pennsylvania DOTs had submitted expressions of interest (EoI) seeking tolling authority under the program—however, Illinois, Oregon, and Pennsylvania continue to consider alternatives. The New York EoI application, seeking authority to implement a zone-based pricing scheme in central Manhattan, is currently under review. In March 2021, FHWA determined that under the National Environmental Policy Act, the class of action for New York City’s Congestion Pricing Plan is an Environmental Assessment, which allowed New York to move forward with its project development process. The U.S. Department of Transportation has focused extensively on addressing traffic congestion problems throughout the Nation through various strategies. Relatedly, the Department continues to provide information, and coordinates comprehensive technical assistance to the States and other stakeholders. A similar letter has been sent to the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Enclosure
February 16, 2022
The Honorable Sam Graves Dear Ranking Member Graves: This letter constitutes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Report to Congress on the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) in accordance with the requirements of Section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Value pricing includes a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways and surface streets, including strategies not involving tolls. Five broad types of pricing strategies have been studied or implemented in the United States:
While the program has continued, and its tolling authority is still being used in multiple jurisdictions, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act did not authorize additional discretionary grants funding. All but one VPPP project had been completed as of the submission of the 2018 Report to Congress. Nevertheless, formula Federal-aid highway funds, such as those through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, may and sometimes are being used to deploy pricing strategies subject to the eligibility requirements for these funds. The one ongoing VPPP project noted above represents a rural, resort-destination market-pricing parking project serving the popular SR-28 corridor in Lake Tahoe. The VPPP funding was provided to the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversaw Tahoe Transportation District Project implementation. The project impetus was the parking shortage most acutely felt during peak summer weekends (14 of 24 million visitors to the Tahoe Basin come in July). Many visitors and tourists used to park on the shoulder of SR-28 and walk along the busy roadway to their destination (typically hiking trailhead or picnic), presenting a safety hazard and causing congestion. The project added free remote parking that connects to destinations through complimentary shuttles, re-tooling multi-hour or all-day parking that is demand priced (by season, day of week, and time of day), and strict enforcement including increased fine amounts (some had been as low as $5) of other parking rules (e.g., an SR-28 shoulder parking prohibition and very short time limits for overlook parking). In April 2020, hardware for demand-based parking pricing (i.e., 4 linked payment kiosks across 90 spaces in a linear parking facility) was installed at one important parking location which launched during the summer 2020 tourist season. Since the submission of the 2018 VPPP Report to Congress, the following States had submitted expressions of interest (EoI) seeking tolling authority under the program: Illinois DOT, New York DOT, Oregon DOT, and the Pennsylvania DOT. Illinois, Oregon, and Pennsylvania continue to consider alternatives. The New York EoI application, seeking authority to implement a zone-based pricing scheme in central Manhattan, is currently under review. In March 2021, FHWA determined that under the National Environmental Policy Act, the class of action for New York City’s Congestion Pricing Plan is an Environmental Assessment, which allowed New York to move forward with its project development process. The U.S. Department of Transportation has focused extensively on addressing traffic congestion problems throughout the Nation including through various pricing strategies. Relatedly, the Department continues to provide information, and coordinates comprehensive technical assistance to the States and other stakeholders. A similar letter has been sent to the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Enclosure
February 16, 2022
The Honorable Tom Carper Dear Chairman Carper: This letter constitutes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Report to Congress on the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) in accordance with the requirements of Section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Value pricing includes a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways and surface streets, including strategies not involving tolls. Five broad types of pricing strategies have been studied or implemented in the United States:
While the program has continued, and its tolling authority is still being used in multiple jurisdictions, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act did not authorize additional discretionary grants funding. All but one VPPP project had been completed as of the submission of the 2018 Report to Congress. Nevertheless, formula Federal-aid highway funds, such as those through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, may and sometimes are being used to deploy pricing strategies subject to the eligibility requirements for these funds. The one ongoing VPPP project noted above represents a rural, resort-destination market-pricing parking project serving the popular SR-28 corridor in Lake Tahoe. The VPPP funding was provided to the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversaw Tahoe Transportation District Project implementation. The project impetus was the parking shortage most acutely felt during peak summer weekends (14 of 24 million visitors to the Tahoe Basin come in July). Many visitors and tourists used to park on the shoulder of SR-28 and walk along the busy roadway to their destination (typically hiking trailhead or picnic), presenting a safety hazard and causing congestion. The project added free remote parking that connects to destinations through complimentary shuttles, re-tooling multi-hour or all-day parking that is demand priced (by season, day of week, and time of day), and strict enforcement including increased fine amounts (some had been as low as $5) of other parking rules (e.g., an SR-28 shoulder parking prohibition and very short time limits for overlook parking). In April 2020, hardware for demand-based parking pricing (i.e., 4 linked payment kiosks across 90 spaces in a linear parking facility) was installed at one important parking location which launched during the summer 2020 tourist season. Since the submission of the 2018 VPPP Report to Congress, the following States had submitted expressions of interest (EoI) seeking tolling authority under the program: Illinois DOT, New York DOT, Oregon DOT, and the Pennsylvania DOT. Illinois, Oregon, and Pennsylvania continue to consider alternatives. The New York EoI application, seeking authority to implement a zone-based pricing scheme in central Manhattan, is currently under review. In March 2021, FHWA determined that under the National Environmental Policy Act, the class of action for New York City’s Congestion Pricing Plan is an Environmental Assessment, which allowed New York to move forward with its project development process. The U.S. Department of Transportation has focused extensively on addressing traffic congestion problems throughout the Nation including through various pricing strategies. Relatedly, the Department continues to provide information, and coordinates comprehensive technical assistance to the States and other stakeholders. A similar letter has been sent to the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Enclosure
February 16, 2022
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito Dear Ranking Member Capito: This letter constitutes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Report to Congress on the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP) in accordance with the requirements of Section 1012(b) of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Value pricing includes a variety of strategies to manage congestion on highways and surface streets, including strategies not involving tolls. Five broad types of pricing strategies have been studied or implemented in the United States:
While the program has continued, and its tolling authority is still being used in multiple jurisdictions, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act did not authorize additional discretionary grants funding. All but one VPPP project had been completed as of the submission of the 2018 Report to Congress. Nevertheless, formula Federal-aid highway funds, such as those through the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program, may and sometimes are being used to deploy pricing strategies subject to the eligibility requirements for these funds. The one ongoing VPPP project noted above represents a rural, resort-destination market-pricing parking project serving the popular SR-28 corridor in Lake Tahoe. The VPPP funding was provided to the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversaw Tahoe Transportation District Project implementation. The project impetus was the parking shortage most acutely felt during peak summer weekends (14 of 24 million visitors to the Tahoe Basin come in July). Many visitors and tourists used to park on the shoulder of SR-28 and walk along the busy roadway to their destination (typically hiking trailhead or picnic), presenting a safety hazard and causing congestion. The project added free remote parking that connects to destinations through complimentary shuttles, re-tooling multi-hour or all-day parking that is demand priced (by season, day of week, and time of day), and strict enforcement including increased fine amounts (some had been as low as $5) of other parking rules (e.g., an SR-28 shoulder parking prohibition and very short time limits for overlook parking). In April 2020, hardware for demand-based parking pricing (i.e., 4 linked payment kiosks across 90 spaces in a linear parking facility) was installed at one important parking location which launched during the summer 2020 tourist season. Since the submission of the 2018 VPPP Report to Congress, the following States had submitted expressions of interest (EoI) seeking tolling authority under the program: Illinois DOT, New York DOT, Oregon DOT, and the Pennsylvania DOT. Illinois, Oregon, and Pennsylvania continue to consider alternatives. The New York EoI application, seeking authority to implement a zone-based pricing scheme in central Manhattan, is currently under review. In March 2021, FHWA determined that under the National Environmental Policy Act, the class of action for New York City’s Congestion Pricing Plan is an Environmental Assessment, which allowed New York to move forward with its project development process. The U.S. Department of Transportation has focused extensively on addressing traffic congestion problems throughout the Nation including through various pricing strategies. Relatedly, the Department continues to provide information, and coordinates comprehensive technical assistance to the States and other stakeholders. A similar letter has been sent to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Enclosure
Value Pricing Pilot Program Toll Agreements as of May 2020
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