Equity Effects of Congestion Charges: An Exploratory Analysis with MATSim

Abstract

This paper shows an application of the multiagent, activity-based transport simulation MATSim to evaluate equity effects of a congestion charging scheme. A cordon pricing scheme was set up for a scenario of the city of Zurich, Switzerland, to conduct such an analysis. Equity is one of the most important barriers toward the implementation of a congestion charging system. After the challenges posed by equity evaluations are examined, it is shown that agent-based simulations with heterogeneous values of time allow for an increased level of detail in such evaluations. Such detail is achieved through a high level of disaggregation and with a 24-h simulation period. An important difference from traditional large-scale models is the low degree of correlation between travel time savings and welfare change. While traditional equity analysis is based on travel time savings, MATSim shows that choice dimensions not included in traditional models, such as departure time changes, can also play an important role in equity effects. The analysis of the results in light of evidence from the literature shows that agent-based models are a promising tool to conduct more complete equity evaluations not only of congestion charges but also of transport policies in general.

The MOBIS dataset: a large GPS dataset of mobility behaviour in Switzerland

“… 1996 ) and simulation experiments (Meyer de Freitas et al. 2017 ; Chakirov 2016 ; Kaddoura 2015 ). Most of the research and practical implementations have focused specifically on road pricing, which is a limited form of transport pricing that focuses on drivers.…”

Design and Analysis of a MATSim Scenario from Open Data: The Case of Messina

“…MacroSim used volume-delay functions to estimate travel times for links based on experienced usages of these links allowing to decouple agents and to parallelize the mobility simulation. In [21], MATSim is used to evaluate equity effects of a congestion charging scheme in a scenario of the city of Zurich (Switzerland).…”

What can urban policies and planning really learn from John Rawls? A multi-strata view of institutional action and a canvas conception of the just city

“…Also in transport planning studies, the discussion on Rawls often assumes that his principles – and, again, especially the difference principle – can be applied to local policies and plans (see e.g. Khisty, 1996; Meyer de Freitas et al 2017; Pereira, 2018, 2019; Hickman, 2019; see moreover the comparison among different ethical principles in transport issues by Pereira et al, 2016; France-Mensah et al, 2019; Creutzig et al, 2020; Adli and Chowdhury, 2021; Lewis et al, 2021).…”