Advanced Technology Approach toAdvanced Technology Approach toAssessing Road User Charges:Assessing Road User Charges:Research ProgressResearch Progress

David J. ForkenbrockDavid J. Forkenbrock

Director, Public Policy CenterDirector, Public Policy Center

University of IowaUniversity of Iowa

Overview of presentationOverview of presentation

Principles of user-based financingPrinciples of user-based financing

Current ITS applications to collect tollsCurrent ITS applications to collect tolls

Public policy issuesPublic policy issues

New GPS technologies for assessingNew GPS technologies for assessingroad user chargesroad user charges

User-based financing: Four basesUser-based financing: Four basesfor pricing public-use facilitiesfor pricing public-use facilities

Generate revenueGenerate revenue

Cover costs of providing serviceCover costs of providing service

Influence behavior to induce greater Influence behavior to induce greater or less useor less use

Achieve equity or other social objectivesAchieve equity or other social objectives

Problems with current methodsProblems with current methods

Toll roads lose 15 to 20 percentToll roads lose 15 to 20 percent

Delays at toll booths are onerousDelays at toll booths are onerous

Fuel tax evasion may be 15 percentFuel tax evasion may be 15 percent

Alternative fuels portend a poor future forAlternative fuels portend a poor future forfuel taxesfuel taxes

Characteristics of ideal systemCharacteristics of ideal systemof user chargesof user charges

Low collection costLow collection cost

Stable revenue streamStable revenue stream

Users occasioning greater costs pay moreUsers occasioning greater costs pay more

Low evasion rateLow evasion rate

Incentive to use appropriate roadsIncentive to use appropriate roads

Unaffected by type of propulsionUnaffected by type of propulsion

Two fundamental ITS approachesTwo fundamental ITS approachesto collecting road use chargesto collecting road use charges

Smart roads with dumb vehiclesSmart roads with dumb vehicles

Smart vehicles with dumb roadsSmart vehicles with dumb roads

Technology behind the smartTechnology behind the smartvehicle approach to collecting uservehicle approach to collecting userchargescharges

Global positioning system (GPS)Global positioning system (GPS)

24 satellites that beam signals24 satellites that beam signals

Satellites beam signals but do not receive Satellites beam signals but do not receive themthem

There is no charge for using the signalsThere is no charge for using the signals

Funding partners for this researchFunding partners for this research

•FHWAFHWA•CaliforniaCalifornia•ConnecticutConnecticut•IowaIowa•KansasKansas•MichiganMichigan•MinnesotaMinnesota•MissouriMissouri

•North CarolinaNorth Carolina•OhioOhio•OregonOregon•South CarolinaSouth Carolina•TexasTexas•UtahUtah•WashingtonWashington•WisconsinWisconsin

Key components of on-board systemKey components of on-board system

GPS provides real-time location informationGPS provides real-time location informationto vehicleto vehicle

GIS road data fileGIS road data file

On-board computer compares GPS and On-board computer compares GPS and GIS to record road useGIS to record road use

New approach to charging road usersNew approach to charging road usersGlobalGlobal

PositioningPositioningSystemSystem

Vehicle On-boardVehicle On-boardWeight IndicatorWeight Indicator

Vehicle GISVehicle GISComputerComputerSoftwareSoftware

Vehicle On-board Computer DatabaseVehicle On-board Computer Database

Road Use SummaryRoad Use Summary

Data Processing CenterData Processing Center

Advantages of the new approachAdvantages of the new approach

Road-specific user charges that are Road-specific user charges that are commensurate with damagecommensurate with damage

Ability to charge congestion feesAbility to charge congestion fees

Improved transportation planningImproved transportation planning

Can keep system as simple as a state Can keep system as simple as a state wisheswishes

Public policy advantagesPublic policy advantages

Ability to charge on the basis of actual Ability to charge on the basis of actual miles traveledmiles traveled

Incentives to avoid congested roadsIncentives to avoid congested roads

Incentives to operate heavy vehicles on Incentives to operate heavy vehicles on appropriate roadsappropriate roads

Need for on-board weight indicatorsNeed for on-board weight indicators

Current weigh-in-motion (WIM) scales areCurrent weigh-in-motion (WIM) scales arefeasible only on major highwaysfeasible only on major highways

Vehicle weight is a big factor in road Vehicle weight is a big factor in road damagedamage

Actual vehicle weight, not registered weight, Actual vehicle weight, not registered weight, is appropriateis appropriate

Should reweigh with every cargo changeShould reweigh with every cargo change

GPS-based financing is good policyGPS-based financing is good policy

Stable revenue streamStable revenue stream

Vehicles that create higher costs pay moreVehicles that create higher costs pay more

Possible incentive to use appropriate roadsPossible incentive to use appropriate roads

Type of vehicle power unimportantType of vehicle power unimportant

Privacy is maintainedPrivacy is maintained

Major benefits to road usersMajor benefits to road users

Expedited permitting for interstate truckersExpedited permitting for interstate truckers

Low-cost on-board navigation systemsLow-cost on-board navigation systems

Automatic emergency-location identificationAutomatic emergency-location identification

Lower registration feesLower registration fees

Mileage-based insurance is possibleMileage-based insurance is possible

Private, high-performance tollways become Private, high-performance tollways become feasiblefeasible

Issues to resolveIssues to resolve

GPS accuracy, especially near tall GPS accuracy, especially near tall buildingsbuildings

Transition from old to new approachTransition from old to new approach

Encryption of data for privacyEncryption of data for privacy

Operation of billing center and method of Operation of billing center and method of billing/paymentbilling/payment

Rental autos and NAFTA trucksRental autos and NAFTA trucks

Implementation—addressing privacy Implementation—addressing privacy concernsconcerns

Data polygons could be used to measure Data polygons could be used to measure miles driven in each statemiles driven in each state

No data on specific trips would be storedNo data on specific trips would be stored

Would allow fair apportionment of user Would allow fair apportionment of user revenue to the statesrevenue to the states