Time-Equitable Dynamic Tolling Scheme For Single Bottlenecks

TL;DR

This paper proposes a time-equitable tolling scheme for single bottlenecks that eliminates congestion and promotes fairness among travelers by considering time poverty, a novel concept in transportation policy.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of time poverty in tolling schemes and develops a time-equitable toll that balances congestion reduction with fairness.

Findings

Time-equitable tolls eliminate congestion effectively.

The scheme promotes equitable travel patterns among heterogeneous travelers.

Compared to no-toll and system optimal tolls, it reduces disparities caused by time poverty.

Abstract

Dynamic tolls present an opportunity for municipalities to eliminate congestion and fund infrastructure. Imposing tolls that regulate travel along a public highway through monetary fees raise worries of inequity. In this article, we introduce the concept of time poverty, emphasize its value in policy-making in the same ways income poverty is already considered, and argue the potential equity concern posed by time-varying tolls that produce time poverty. We also compare the cost burdens of a no-toll, system optimal toll, and a proposed ``time-equitable" toll on heterogeneous traveler groups using an analytical Vickrey bottleneck model where travelers make departure time decisions to arrive at their destination at a fixed time. We show that the time-equitable toll is able to eliminate congestion while creating equitable travel patterns amongst traveler groups.