Impact of the road pricing scheme on commuter trip departure time

Traffic congestion in many cities around the world has reached gridlock resulting in the loss of millions of dollars in lost production and time. It is a consequence of limited road capacity and the peak travel phenomena. Traditional responses have focused on adding more capacity and traffic management. However in recent years, authorities have recognized the need to look at the issue from a holistic perspective such as systematic land use planning, investments in efficient public transport and introduction of road user charges (or road pricing). This study addresses the impact of road pricing on travel behavior and in particular its impacts on trip departure time, route and mode choice. The study concludes that substitution will occur as long as there are non-priced roads. Traffic congestion will spillover into the other parts of the road network thus spreading externalities which were at first limited to congested highways. There were relatively few drivers who switched departure times. Even fewer switched to public transport. The study concludes by focusing on the introduction of flexible work schedules, decentralizing employment centers and the use of technology to reduce the need for travel