Development of Modeling Framework to Assess Impacts of Congestion Pricing Policies in Southern California with Consideration of New Mobility Options

Research Lead: Michael Hyland

UC Campus(es): UC Irvine

Problem Statement: The Southern California megaregion is facing the interrelated problems of traffic congestion and dangerous levels of harmful vehicle emissions. To mitigate these problems, transportation agencies and policy-makers are considering a number of dynamic congestion pricing policies. While looking to existing dynamic congestion policies from around the world (such as Singapore, London, Stockholm and Milan) for insights is helpful, Southern California is significantly different – in terms of land-use, transit usage, central business district density, and other measures. There is a need for models that can assess the potential impacts of dynamic congestion pricing in Southern California before implementation. In addition, the model should consider new mobility options through private companies such as Uber and Lyft, as well as equity concerns inherent in pricing strategies.

Project Description: This research project aims to develop an integrated transportation supply-and-demand modeling framework that captures new mobility options and dynamic congestion pricing policies. The model will capture relevant aspects of traveler behavior (i.e. activity choices, activity location choices, mode choices, willingness-to-share, and route choices) and transportation network performance by modeling new mobility fleet operators (i.e. decision-makers at companies like Uber and Lyft), whose profit maximizing motives are likely to make them even more sensitive to pricing changes than individual travelers. After operationalizing the modeling framework, the research team will apply it to Southern California to assess the potential impacts of dynamic congestion pricing policies on the region’s transportation system.

Status: In Progress

Budget: $79,258