VPP Projects Involving Tolls
Category: Priced Roadways
Sub-Category: Priced Tollways
Project - NEW JERSEY: Variable Tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority operates a 148-mile facility with 28 interchanges. It is one of the most heavily traveled roadways in the country with average daily trips exceeding 500,000 vehicles. The Turnpike's variable pricing program began in the fall of 2000. The program provides for tolls that are about twelve percent higher during peak traffic hours than during off-peak periods for users of the electronic toll collection system. The price differential is scheduled to increase in a phased manner over several years.
The NJ Turnpike's time of day pricing initiative was one of the most significant efforts launched in the United States, not only with respect to the numbers of people affected and the volume of traffic utilizing NJ Turnpike Authority (NJTA) facilities, but also in its attempt to affect the behavior of commuters traveling in peak periods. Observations from the final report included the following:
The average trip delay was reduced by about 3-18 percent from 2000 to 2001 after the concurrent introduction of E-ZPass and the first phase of the time of day pricing program. The major reason for this reduction was, however, observed to be the reduction in toll plaza delays due to the introduction of E-ZPass.
E-ZPass deployment was observed to reduce the toll plaza delays by 44-74 percent between 2000 and 2001, the year after the introduction of the E-ZPass for the first time. It was also observed that there was no increase in toll plaza delays despite the increase of traffic volumes from 2001 to 2003. This was due to the increase in the percentage of E-ZPass users over the years.
Simulation analyses showed that between 2000 and 2001 there was a reduction in vehicle emission levels as high as 10.7 percent. After 2001 a slight increase in emissions was observed due to the increasing demand, which can be interpreted as an expected outcome given the relationship among the demand, delays and emissions.
The estimated value of time (VOT) for a specific E-ZPass user was highly influenced by the trip purpose (work or leisure trip), period choice (peak or peak shoulder periods), income level, toll amount, travel time, and desired arrival time. Peak period users gave higher value to travel time savings than peak shoulder users.
Study Completed
The final report can be accessed from the FHWA Highway Community Exchange Web site at: http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/hcx.nsf/384aefcefc48229e85256a71004b24e0/
ba2414ce1eac182685256dc500674090?OpenDocument.
For More Information Contact
Kaan Ozbay, Ph.D.
University Principal Investigator
Rutgers University
Phone: (732) 445-2792
Fax: (732) 445-0577
E-mail: kaan@rci.rutgers.edu
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