Evaluating the Traffic and Emissions Impacts of Congestion Pricing in New York City

Abstract

Traffic congestion is a major challenge in metropolitan areas due to economic and negative health impacts. Several strategies have been tested all around the globe to relieve traffic congestion and minimize transportation externalities. Congestion pricing is among the most cited strategies with the potential to manage the travel demand. This study aims to investigate potential travel behavior changes in response to cordon pricing in Manhattan, New York. Several pricing schemes with variable cordon charging fees are designed and examined using an activity-based microsimulation travel demand model. The findings demonstrate a decreasing trend in the total number of trips interacting with the central business district (CBD) as the price goes up, except for intrazonal trips. We also analyze a set of other performance measures, such as Vehicle-Hours of Delay, Vehicle-Miles Traveled, and vehicle emissions. While the results show considerable growth in transit ridership (6%), single-occupant vehicles and taxis trips destined to the CBD reduced by 30% and 40%, respectively, under the $20 pricing scheme. The aggregated value of delay for all vehicles was also reduced by 32%. Our findings suggest that cordon pricing can positively ameliorate transportation network performance and consequently, improve air quality by reducing particular matter inventory by up to 17.5%. The results might facilitate public acceptance of cordon pricing strategies for the case study of NYC. More broadly, this study provides a robust framework for decision-makers across the US for further analysis on the subject.

Recent Progress in Activity-Based Travel Demand Modeling: Rising Data and Applicability

“…Travel demand management (TDM) strategies are implemented to increase the efficiency of the transportation system and reduce traffic-related emissions. Some examples include mode shift strategies (encouraging people to use public transport) [144], time shift (to ride in off-peak hours, congestion pricing), and travel demand reduction [145] (using shared mobility service or teleworking). Shared transport services including car sharing, bike sharing, and ridesharing have been implemented in most of the transport planning systems across the world.…”

Exploring the Effect of Bicycle Infrastructure on Car Usage: A Case Study in Huhhot, China

“…With increased motorization, traffic congestion has become one of the major problems faced by many cities worldwide. Numerous measures and strategies have been adopted to mitigate the traffic congestion, such as prioritizing public transport, developing bicycle systems, and congestion pricing [1,2]. Among these, bicycle systems have been increasingly popular around the world since the last decade [3], due to various positive returns, such as reduction in traffic [4], fuel consumption, and harmful emissions [5][6][7], increases in public transportation service and economic outcome [8], and improvements in physical and mental health [9][10][11][12][13].…”

Evaluation of Two Improved Schemes at Non-Aligned Intersections Affected by a Work Zone with an Entropy Method

“…The intersection traffic problem not only causes congestion, but also generates air pollution [1] and potential safety hazards [2]. Restriction policies and congestion charges are also results of congestion [3]. Not all intersections are standard, which can be the results of urban scheming, building near the intersection, imbalance between the number of lanes, road markings, and traffic optimization [4][5][6].…”