Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 19
Direct Demand Strategies
—
Pricing
19.1 Introduction
Pricing strategies have emerged since the 1970s as a means of better allocating road
space to reduce congestion and to more equitably cover the costs that road users
contribute to the congestion. Congestion (or value) pricing is supported by many
economists, planners, and public of
cials. Within the United States, it has the
support of the US Federal Highway Administration.
The sections that follow describe the evolution of road pricing in the US, de
ne
the concept, give examples of application world-wide, and suggest possible future
directions of road pricing in reducing congestion.
19.2 Evolution of Road Pricing
Road pricing has a long history in the United States. Tolled bridges, tunnels, and
turnpikes predate the automobile. They were designed to generate revenues to help
pay for the construction, operation, and maintenance of these facilities. However,
the main methods of road
finance since the early 20th century were the state and
federal motor vehicle fuel taxes.
By about 1930, tolls were collected on parkways in Westchester and Nassau
Counties in New York. The Merritt Parkway between New York City and New
Haven that opened about 1938 had two toll stations.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike
opened just
before World War II (WWII). Tolls were also established on major water crossings
such as the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, NY, and the San Francisco
—
the
first major interstate toll road
—
—
Oakland
and Golden Gate bridges in California.
After WWII, major toll roads were built throughout the United States
starting
with the New Jersey Turnpike. Many of these facilities placed tolls on entering and
—
