Reliability- and Median-Based Identification of Toll Locations in a Connected Vehicle Context

In anticipation of pervasive onboard navigation and electronic payment associated with connected vehicle technology, universal dynamic tolling is a promising possibility for future congestion management. In order to take advantage of these advancements, planners must consider which metrics should be used for the selection and performance evaluation of tolls. This work considers two metrics: median travel time and reliability measured with the 80th percentile travel time index. Each metric is tested for the identification of candidate tolling facilities and for the evaluation of the toll’s performance. Using data mining techniques on measured volumes and speeds from California freeways, test tolls are simulated based on the two identification metrics. The authors find that both metrics contribute to the assessment of the toll’s success, but travel time reliability is a stronger metric for determining the most effective locations for imposing tolls.