2013 Session: 387

• Traveler Response to Co-present Multiple Pricing Schemes:Results of an Elaborated Mixture-Amount Experiment
  Abstract: Many academics and transportation planners seem convinced that pricing schemes may be one of the most effective policy instruments to change travelers’ behaviour such to minimize congestion and/or emissions, or optimize system use otherwise. Consequently, a considerable amount of empirical work has been conducted, however primarily with respect to single pricing policies. Travelers’ adaptive behaviour to accumulated transport charges has not yet received much attention. Addressing this under-researched issue, this paper documents the construction, implementation and analysis of a mixture-amount experiment involving three mixtures of pricing schemes: toll road, congestion pricing and parking price and three different travel budget levels per day. Basic mixed-amount design applications are extended to include an attribute associated with each pricing policy to capture different levels of travel time savings. Using seven mixtures of the simplex lattice design, we estimate a second-degree polynomial model to predict choice of amount and mixture of expenditures to different pricing schemes, capturing the trade-off with level of travel time savings. To collect the data for the model, a total of 304 respondents participated in an Internet-based stated choice experiment, conducted in February 2012 in The Netherlands. A mixed logit model (ML) is estimated to model behavioral response. Results indicate the negative attitude of the sample towards their willingness to pay for pricing policies. Respondents seem more sensitive to congestion pricing than to the two other policies. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of socio-demographic variables on choice probabilities. Income and public transport accessibility for conducting the rush-hour trip were recognized as the most effective variables on respondents’ preference. Keywords: Transportation Demand Management (TDM), accumulated pricing policies, mixture-amount design, Mixed Logit (ML)
  Authors: Khademi, Elaheh; Timmermans, Harry J.P.; Borgers, Aloys
  Authors: Khademi, Elaheh; Timmermans, Harry J.P.; Borgers, Aloys
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-1966
• Positive Model of Departure Time Choice Under Road Pricing and Uncertainty
  Abstract: This paper develops an innovative theoretical framework for modeling departure time choice under road pricing and uncertainty at the individual level, and analyzes the consequent system-level dynamic properties. The proposed modeling framework avoids assumptions of substantial rationality, and focuses on how individuals actually make decisions. Learning, knowledge updating, searching, and decision-making under uncertainty are modeled in the framework. Then, the time-dependent departure patterns along with other system performances are investigated in a series of agent-based simulation experiments. How individuals actually choose departure time under various supply- and demand-side uncertainty scenarios are explored, as well as their effect on system performance and its dynamic properties.
  Authors: Xiong, Chenfeng; Zhang, Lei
  Authors: Xiong, Chenfeng; Zhang, Lei
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-3421
• Real-World Test of Road User Fees: Evaluating Minnesota’s Mileage-Based User Fee Test
  Abstract: The increasing fuel efficiency of modern vehicles is decreasing the revenue collected by state agencies for use on roadway maintenance. Due to this loss of revenue, there is growing interest among the transportation community in exploring the possibility of implementing mileage-based fees to replace or supplement fuel tax revenues. This study pilot tested the use of a commercial off-the-shelf smartphone device outfitted with custom software to assess mileage-based user fees. A total of 500 participants were involved in test, each participating for a period of 6 months each. To simulate a real world deployment, participants were invoiced for their fees. This paper highlights findings regarding participant perceptions of the fuel tax, mileage-based user fees, the in-vehicle smartphone device, and privacy concerns. This paper focuses on data gathered through surveys and one-on-one interviews. Results from this test indicate that participants believe that revenue generated from the fuel tax benefits them as drivers and they understand the obligation to keep roads in a state of good repair. The majority of participants believed that varying a road fee based on location and time of the day was appropriate; however, participants favored varying the fee based on location. Participant perceptions throughout indicate that as their experience using a mileage-based system increases, so does their understanding and trust of the system and mileage-based user fee concepts. Furthermore, a large percentage of participants indicated they would prefer a mileage-based user fee to the traditional fuel tax.
  Authors: Kehoe, Nicholas Paul; Rephlo, Jennifer A; Miller, Sheryl; Armstrong, Christopher; Johnson, Cory J.
  Authors: Kehoe, Nicholas Paul; Rephlo, Jennifer A; Miller, Sheryl; Armstrong, Christopher; Johnson, Cory J.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-4492
• Public Perceptions and Preferences towards a VMT Fee System in Nevada
  Abstract: A number of barriers are associated with the implementation and deployment of a Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT) system, ranging from technology issues to public acceptance. Technologically related barriers are easier to address compared to publicly related barriers. In addition, addressing technological barriers requires explicit consideration of the public attitudes and preferences towards various technological options. This paper studies public perceptions and preferences towards a VMT system in Nevada. A survey questionnaire was developed to capture these perception and preferences. A series of discrete choice models – including ordered, probit, and logit models – were tested to determine the best model to use for evaluating the results of the survey. Multinomial logit models provided the best explanatory power. Modeling assumptions were tested to ensure adequate results. The model provided a number of interesting insights about public perceptions and preferences regarding the VMT system. Based on these insights, some policy recommendations are provided.
  Authors: Nordland, Andrew; Paz, Alexander; Khan, Alauddin
  Authors: Nordland, Andrew; Paz, Alexander; Khan, Alauddin
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-2215
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Positive Model of Departure Time Choice Under Road Pricing and Uncertainty
  Authors: Xiong, Chenfeng
  Authors: Xiong, Chenfeng
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-3421
• Traveler Response to Co-present Multiple Pricing Schemes: Results of an Elaborated Mixture-Amount Experiment
  Authors: Khademi, Elaheh
  Authors: Khademi, Elaheh
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-1966
• Public Perceptions and Preferences towards a VMT Fee System in Nevada
  Authors: Paz, Alexander
  Authors: Paz, Alexander
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-2215
• Real-World Test of Road User Fees: Evaluating Minnesota's Mileage-Based User Fee Test
  Authors: Rephlo, Jennifer
  Authors: Rephlo, Jennifer
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: 13-4492
• Presiding Officer
  Authors: White, Karen
  Authors: White, Karen
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Economics; Finance
  Session: 387
  Paper Number: Z13-387