Synthesis of Congestion Pricing-Related Environmental Impact Analyses

Final Report

1. Report No.

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient's Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Synthesis of Congestion Pricing-Related Environmental Impact Analyses - Final Report

5. Report Date

October 18 , 2010

6. Performing Organization Code

HOTO-1

7. Author(s)

Matt Burt and Garnell Sowell, Battelle; Jason Crawford and Todd Carlson, Texas Transportation Institute

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Battelle
505 King Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-06-D-00007 –
Task T10001

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Federal Transit Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HRT

15. Supplementary Notes

Gene McHale, COTM

16. Abstract

This report summarizes the state-of-the-practice and presents a recommended framework for before-after evaluations of the environmental impacts of congestion pricing projects, such as high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and cordon or area pricing schemes. The report focuses on the three environmental impact areas that have been most commonly examined in such evaluations: air quality, noise, and environmental justice (sometimes referred to as equity). Since environmental impacts are a function of the travel impacts of congestion pricing projects, this report also examines state-of-the-practice regarding evaluation of travel impacts such as traffic, transit and travel behavior. The state-of-the-practice results are based primarily on a review of the published literature associated with eight congestion pricing study projects from around the world. A number of gaps in existing practice and understanding are identified and recommendations are provided to address those gaps.

17. Key Words

Congestion pricing, road user charges, environmental impacts

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions. This document is available to the public.

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No of Pages

96

22. Price

N/A