Travel behaviour : responses to direct road user charges

Abstract

This thesis, considers several aspects of driver behaviour in relation to the direct pricing of highway use by reference to a specific local example: Southampton's Itchen Toll Bridge. Although the case study example is an unusual component in the U.K. highway network, the issues considered in the thesis are fundamental, and are applicable to a wide range of circumstances. Chapter 2 considers the effectiveness and equity of the Itchen Bridge tolls as a means of traffic restraint. In particular the responses to changes in toll price are considered, being compared with previous predictions, other examples and theoretical concepts. The particular funding arrangements of the Bridge are also briefly discussed. Chapter 3 describes studies undertaken to measure the value of motorists' travel time savings by reference to their route choices between the Itchen Bridge and the untolled Northam Bridge. The case study location is particularly advantageous for such measurement and provides an opportunity to compare the transfer price method with the more traditional revealed preference approach. Chapter 4 describes the differences in the reported travel habits of residents over a period of four months. Considerable variability was observed which has important implications in a wide range of transport research topics. Chapter 5 puts forward an alternative idea to the principle of valuation implicit in Chapter 3. It is argued that in the context of current U.K. highway appraisal procedures the monetary valuation of travel time savings is not only difficult, but also unnecessary and possibly even unhelpful. Traffic restraint by pricing, prediction of the response to changes in travel conditions, measuring the value of travel time savings, the variability of travel patterns and methods of highway appraisal are all important and topical issues in transport research. This thesis makes an original contribution in all these areas. (D67988/86)

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