Unexpected delay and the cost of lateness on I-394 high occupancy/toll lanes

This study estimates differences in willingness to pay on a current trip in a stated preference context based on people's actual previous experience . The analysis is based on the I-394 MnPASS High Occupancy / Toll ( HOT ) lane project recently implemented in the Minneapolis / St . Paul region . The subjects in the study had been assigned a trip to complete and recorded their experiences . Using a Stated Preference survey , the individuals are then asked to choose between a free alternative and the use of HOT lanes under different travel time and toll combinations . The analysis groups the travelers into subscribers and non-subscribers of the MnPASS ( electronic toll collection transponder ) system and further groups them into categories based on trip departure time ( AM peak , PM peak and off-peak ) and their previous experience ( delayed or not ) . The findings suggest an increased willingness to pay among subscribers who were late in the PM rush hour . We also find some evidence that individuals who were late during the AM peak have a lower willingness to pay as compared to their on-time counterparts.