Economics and Finance

Assessing the Role of AVL in Demand Responsive Transportation Systems

Gillen, David
Raffaillac, Julie
2002

Many-to-many demand responsive transportation systems consist of vehicles which take passengers from their origins to their destinations within a service area. In dial-a-vehicle systems, in order to circumvent the undesirable feature of taxicab systems, vehicles are allowed to deviate from their direct route to serve other passengers and the emphasis is on building efficient tours to increase vehicle productivity. This strategy increases riding times but also increases average occupancy and productivity of the vehicles, and hence decreases average waiting times. A similar problem is faced...

The Market for Traffic Information-Study of Industry Structure and Prospects

Chan, Shirley
Malchow, Matthew
Kanafani, Adib
1999

The market for traffic information has grown considerably in the past 10 years. Traffic information is different from other goods because the cost to users is negligible and the product is indirectly priced. As a result of these unique characteristics, the classic economic model can not be applied to determine the price or the amount of information which would be produced and consumed under competitive equilibrium. Examination of the history of traffic information as a marketable good and the structure of the market indicate that traffic information providers are experiencing significant...

A Comparative Systems-level Analysis: Automated Freeways, Hov Lanes, Transit Expansion, Pricing Policies And Land Use Intensification

Johnston, Robert
1997

The focus of this project was to examine the potential travel, emissions, and consumer benefits of advanced freeway automation and travel demand management measures. The Sacramento Regional Travel Demand model (SACMET 95) was used to simulate the travel effects of travel demand management measures in the Sacramento region for a twenty year time horizon. The scenarios examined included various combinations of automated freeways, new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, transit, land use intensification, and pricing policies.

A Futures Market for Demand Responsive Travel Pricing

June 25, 2024

Authors: Nicholas Fournier, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, SafeTREC, PATH, University of California, Berkeley; Anthony Patire, Ph.D., Research & Development Engineer, PATH, University of California, Berkeley; and Alexander Skabardonis, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley.

Abstract:

Dynamic toll pricing based on demand can increase transportation revenue while also incentivizing travelers to avoid peak traffic periods. However, given the unpredictable nature of...

A Futures Market for Demand Responsive Travel Pricing

Fournier, Nicholas, PhD
Patire, Anthony, PhD
Skabardonis, Alexander, PhD
2023

Dynamic toll pricing based on demand can increase transportation revenue while also incentivizing travelers to avoid peak traffic periods. However, given the unpredictable nature of traffic, travelers lack the information necessary to accurately predict congestion, so dynamic pricing has minimal effect on demand. Dynamic toll pricing also poses equity concerns for those who lack other travel options. This research explores a potential remedy to these concerns by using a simple “futures market” pricing mechanism in which travelers can lock in a toll price for expected trips by prepaying for...

A Futures Market for Demand Responsive Travel Pricing

Fournier, Nicholas, PhD
Patire, Anthony, PhD
Skabardonis, Alexander, PhD
2023

Dynamic toll pricing based on demand can increase transportation revenue while also incentivizing travelers to avoid peak traffic periods. However, given the unpredictable nature of traffic, travelers lack the information necessary to accurately predict congestion, so dynamic pricing has minimal effect on demand. Dynamic toll pricing also poses equity concerns for those who lack other travel options. This research explores a potential remedy to these concerns by using a simple “futures market” pricing mechanism in which travelers can lock in a toll price for expected trips by prepaying for...

Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Transit Smart Cards

Iseki, Hiroyuki, PhD
Demisch, Alexander
Taylor, Brian D., PhD
Yoh, Allison C., MA
2008

Smart cards are gaining momentum as transit agencies across the country have been implementing them as a fare medium. Smart cards hold the promise of revolutionizing the way riders use transit, and how transit systems operate. But in order to adopt smart cards, transit agencies must purchase new equipment and upgrade their entire fare collection system – a very expensive process. In addition, many of the oft-touted benefits of smart cards are vague, and it is not at all certain if they are worth the high cost of implementation.This study examines how transportation agencies in three...

Commercial Vehicle Parking in California: Exploratory Evaluation of the Problem and Solutions

Rodier, Caroline J., PhD
Shaheen, Susan A., PhD
Allen, Denise M.
Dix, Brenda
2010

California is home to major international ports in Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland, as well as the second largest border crossing between Mexico and the U.S. California’s highways are critical commercial links from these ports of entry to the nation and carry more commercial vehicle truck traffic than any other state in the U.S. Given the high volume of truck travel in California, it is not surprising that there is a serious shortage of truck parking in the state. This shortage negatively impacts economic productivity, roadway safety, air quality, and public health. This report begins...

An Evaluation of the Accessibility Benefits of Commuter Rail in Eastern Massachusetts Using Spatial Hedonic Price Functions

Armstrong, RJ
Rodriguez, DA
2006

We estimate spatial hedonic price functions to examine local and regional accessibility benefits of commuter rail service in Eastern Massachusetts, while controlling for proximity-related negative externalities and other confounding influences. The data include 1,860 single-family residential properties from four municipalities with commuter rail service, and three municipalities without commuter rail service. We find some evidence of the capitalization of accessibility to commuter rail stations. Two model specifications suggest that properties located in municipalities with commuter...

Small Cars In Neighborhoods

Bosselmann, Peter C.
Cullinane, Daniel
Garrison, William L.
Maxey, Carl M.
1993

Focusing on neighborhood travel, this study first reviews the development of vehicles and roads suited to such travel. It then considers community development trends that might encourage or thwart the adoption and use of such vehicles. Demands for vehicles and travel patterns are then treated, followed by discussions of safety and regulation topics and cost benefit issues.