Estimating Behavioral Response to Peak-Period Pricing

The concept of applying peak-period pricing policies to highways and other urban transportation facilities has been proposed as one means of redui:i ng rush-hour congestion and compensating for the social costs of travel. This research was designed to assess the potential impacts of rush-hour pricing on the six toll bridges and tunnels between New York City and New Jersey that are operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Elasticity coefficients were computed by using data obtained from 943 respondents to detailed telephone attitude surveys. Peak-period crossing patrons, categorized by market segment, were asked to give their likely behavioral responses to off· peak discounts or peak-period surcharges. Several options were identified, in· eluding ridesharing, transit, and time-of-day shift. Approximately 16 percent of all passenger-car motorists would change travel time to avoid a $1.00 toll surcharge, but less than 20 percent of these would be willing to shift time by more than one hour. Work trips were found to be less sensitive to toll changes than were nonwork trips, and a substantial cost disincentive was found to be somewhat more effective in removing vehicles than was an off-peak incentive. To avoid higher toll charges, the average motorist would react in the following order of preference: (a) switch to another crossing, (b) switch time of travel, (c) switch to transit, (d) travel less often or not at all, and (e) join a cari~ool.