Congestion Pricing - A Primer: Evolution of Second Generation Pricing Projects

1. Report No.

2. Government Accession No.

3. Recipient's Catalog No.

4. Title and Subtitle

Congestion Pricing – A Primer: Evolution of Second Generation Pricing Projects

5. Report Date

September 2015

6. Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Donald Samdahl, Fehr & Peers and Myron Swisher, Leidos

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Leidos
11251 Roger Bacon Dr.
Reston, VA 20190

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

DTFH61-12-D-00050

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

United States Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

Primer

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

HOTM

15. Supplementary Notes

COTM: Ms. Angela Jacobs, Federal Highway Administration

16. Abstract

While pricing of managed lanes has been in place for over 20 years, most of the projects have been conversions of existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes into high-occupancy-toll (HOT) lanes. These are the first generation projects. This primer explores the evolution of first-generation pricing strategies into more complex express toll lanes using new or expanded capacity. For purposes of this primer, the second-generation pricing projects refer to variably priced lanes and variable tolls on entire roadways. Pricing changes throughout the day, either on a variable daily schedule or dynamically based on the level of congestion and demand for the managed lanes.

The second generation movement also includes the implementation of integrated networks of priced roadways within urban regions. The primer explains these differences and provides insights from case studies around the United States. The primer concludes with guidance for agencies looking to develop second-generation pricing projects.

17. Key Words

Road pricing, congestion pricing, priced managed lanes

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions.

19. Security Classification (of this report)

Unclassified

20. Security Classification (of this page)

Unclassified

21. No of Pages

52

22. Price

N/A