Economics and Finance

Roadway Powered Electric Vehicle Project Parametric Studies: Phase 3D Final Report

Systems Control Technology
1996

This study looked at the application of electrification and automation to freeways in the Los Angeles region. The report is broken down into the following sections: Development and Enhancement of Analysis Tools, Inductive Coupling System Design, Value Engineering of Roadway Cores, and Economic Analysis of Roadway Powered Electric Vehicle (RPEV) Technology.

Revenue Models for Advanced Traveler Information Systems

Yim, Y. B.
2001

The paper describes current trends in the traveler information supply system and the prospect for potential markets for advanced traveler information in the United States and Europe. Alternative revenue models are identified that may be able to support the operation of the newly created traveler information centers in the post-field operational test phase. In the past, public agencies have been reluctant to share traffic management responsibilities with the private sector. However, this study found that the current trend is toward a public-private partnership in the form of a franchised or...

Highway Electrification And Automation Technologies - Regional Impacts Analysis Project: Executive Summary

Scag
Path
1993

The Highway Electrification and Automation Technologies Regional Impacts Analysis Project (HE&A) addressed the transportation-related problems of freeway congestion, air pollution, and dependence on fossil fuels in southern California. The impacts of roadway electrification and highway automation were investigated to determine to what extent these advanced technologies could alleviate these problems. For the highway electrification technology, utility, environmental, and economic impacts were also studied. The feasibility of implementing one or more demonstrations in the six-county...

A Mobile Platform for Roadway Incident Documentation

Su, Ray J.
Chan, Ching-Yao
2004

This report is part of the final report and the deliverables for TR0002, Collision Recording and Documentation, sponsored by California Office of Traffic Safety, and contracted through California Department of Transportation. Roadway incidents, especially collisions, often result in traffic congestion and travel delays, in addition to the direct damage to the vehicles and the injuries to the people involved. The subsequent congestion is mainly caused by stopped vehicles or lane closure, but it is often intensified by slowing vehicles with drivers observing the accident scene. The effects...

Using Vehicles Equipped with Toll Tags as Probes for Providing Travel Times

John, Wright
Dahlgren, Joy
2001

The introduction of electronic toll collection on the eight bridges crossing San Francisco Bay has provided the means for a relatively simple and low cost system for measuring travel times on many Bay Area bridges and roads. The toll tags sued for electronic toll collection can be read by readers at various locations on congested roads. The time of reading is recorded so that the time difference between when a vehicle passes one reader and passes the next can be computed. Such a system is already operating in Houston, where it is the primary source of travel time data. Capital costs per...

Measuring the Aggregate Productivity Benefits from ITS Applications: The California Experience

Gillen, David
Haynes, Matt
2000

This research provides the first evidence of whether and how ITS contributes to economic growth and productivity – an objective established by the California Transportation Plan and ITS in particular. The next set of questions includes, what industries are most affected by ITS applications? Does it matter how many ITS applications are present, in other words, are there diminishing returns to similar ITS projects? Finally, does it matter how ITS projects are combined? This latter question also arose out of our research on production functions as well, and will be a central part of the...

Evaluation Framework For Commercial Vehicle Responses To Congestion Pricing

Wachs, Martin
Kawamura, Kazuya
1997

This report presents a short-run framework for analyzing the impacts of congestion pricing on commercial vehicles. The framework is based on microeconomics principles and past theoretical studies of congestion pricing. The relationship between value of time and the welfare gain/loss induced by using congestion pricing is identified. The social cost function and empirical demand and supply functions are also discussed.

Transportation Opportunities and Constraints: The Performance of Urban Highway Transportation

Garrison, William L.
1987

This report is the first in a series. The objective of the series is the definition of opportunities for shafp improvements in highway system performance, say, improvements on the order of two or more. Toward that objective, this first report considers system performance as such and the status of the economic and social services enabled by the system.The report presents a first-pass analysis. Revisions are intended as the work continues.

High Occupancy Vehicle/Toll Lanes: How Do They Operate and Where Do They Make Sense?

Dahlgren, Joy
1999

Motivated by the need for better utilization of existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and the potential of high-occupancy/toll (HOT) lanes to increase utilization, this paper examines the circumstances in which HOT lanes could provide a more desirable alternative to HOV lanes. First, it compares the HOT and HOV lane concepts, showing how they are similar and how they differ. Both involve finding some type of equilibrium in which no additional people are motivated to use the lane. However, in the case of the HOT lane, the agency operating the facility can affect the equilibrium point...

An Economic Analysis Of Network Deployment And Application To Road Pricing

Levinson, David
1998

This paper develops an economic framework for developing strategies necessary to deploy networks, and applies the framework to the deployment of road pricing. The cost structure of highways are discussed. A graphical method for measuring welfare with road pricing is presented. The relationship of space and financing mechanism is reviewed. A network model of the economy is presented. This is followed by a discussion of network externalities, and how those relate to both the deployment and emergence of technologies. Finally, the deployment of three main elements relating to road pricing: use...