Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-58).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-58). Also available in print.

The growing number of trucks traveling on freeways has caused more traffic congestion and increased the likelihood of truck-related crashes. Many transportation agencies are considering a new concept of truck-only toll (TOT) lanes to provide a more efficient and safer freight transportation system. This research develops a methodology for identifying candidate TOT lanes in the freeway system. The modeling of TOT lanes in different geographic applications includes individual TOT corridors, a regional TOT network, and a statewide TOT network. The criteria employed in a geographic information system (GIS)-based screening process to determine feasible TOT corridors and their boundaries/extents include: freeway level of service, truck volumes, truck percentage of total freeway flow, truck-related crashes, and truckers willingness to pay. The research also presents the process for determining optimum toll rates for TOT lanes. Furthermore, this research addresses issues of assessing the engineering design of TOT lane placement and the performance measures of using either mandatory or voluntary TOT lanes. This research also examines freeway performance under two scenarios -- adding general purpose lanes or building TOT lanes with both mandatory and voluntary use. Finally, this research addresses the strategies for critical issues associated with the planning, design, and operation of TOT lanes and presents TOT planning guidance.

Though billions of dollars has been spent on traffic infrastructure in Hong Kong for the past decades, it is still an unsolved traffic problem. Especially in peak hours, vehicles have to pay for the traffic congestion in the way of waiting time and air pollution. The public is interested in congestion pricing as it is effective in allocating resource. Also the revenues raised in road pricing can be used to invest in transport infrastructures which will benefit the whole society, especially in Hong Kong where more than 90% trips are taken by public transit. The existing policy is that growth in the private vehicle fleet should not exceed 3% per year. Currently, the increase rate of private vehicles is much higher than 3%. This generates the need to do the feasibility of ERP system in tackling congestion in Hong Kong. The ERP system is not a new term for the public as the Hong Kong Government has done two studies about road pricing in 1983 and 1998. However, the studies did not promote the implementation of ERP system in Hong Kong for various reasons. At the same time, the ERP system has been tested successful in many areas, such as Singapore and London. Lessons learnt from the two cases will guide the implantation of ERP system in Hong Kong. The study is conducted to evaluate the proposed implementation of the ERP system and attempts to recommend on future practices in order to achieve a more efficient, equitable and flexible means of managing the road space particularly in congested areas during busy hours. Questionnaire surveys will be conducted to get data for analysis of effect of ERP system. Combined with analysis of supply of transport infrastructure in next five years, the research finding is that the ERP system is not proper to be adopt to solve traffic congestion in Hong Kong. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Inadequate and uncertain transportation funding have in recent years resulted in a renewed emphasis on using investments that can be recovered by toll charges to finance new roads and modernize existing roads. This has raised questions about environmental justice (EJ) and how it pertains to tolling. In 2004, TxDOT Project 0-5208 was funded to propose an approach for the identification, measurement, and mitigation of disproportionately high or adverse impacts imposed on minority and low-income (EJ) communities by toll roads relative to non-tolled facilities. The methodology proposed had two equally important components: an analysis/quantitative component and an effective EJ participation component. However, the research raised concerns about the ability of various available analytical tools and analysis techniques to measure the potential impacts imposed on EJ communities by toll roads relative to non-toll roads. The objective of this thesis study was to extend the work that was conducted under TxDOT Research Project 0-5208 by (a) reviewing the ability of available tools and analysis techniques to quantify and qualitatively describe the EJ impacts associated with toll road projects and toll road systems through an evaluation of state-of-the-practice applications, and (b) recommending a suitable approach to assess the EJ impacts of toll roads and toll road systems on EJ communities. The research conducted to meet the study objectives has culminated in this thesis. / text

South African infrastructure has traditionally been funded through general government budgets and dedicated taxes and fees rather than tolls. However since the early 1980's, the South African Government has adopted a strategy of tolling portions of the national road infra-structure either through PPP's or toll routes owned by the SANRA. This paper investigates whether the approach of tolling the road infrastructure together with the financing, construction and maintenance of roads by means of PPP's is the most efficient economic manner to finance such endeavours. A case study analysis of TRAC, a concession toll road project, highlights the theoretical economic inefficiencies which are primarily present in relation to marginal operating and external costs, misallocation of resources, the costs of collecting tolls, contractual efficiency as well as the efficiency in raising capital. The decision to toll routes, albeit theoretically economically inefficient, is however contextualized when viewed against the funding needs of Government, particularly in light of the fact that the South African government will continue to experience severe funding shortfalls for road maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction. However, highway needs are increasing yet public funding sources are constrained by limited resources together with spending priorities in other areas. Ostensibly the decision to toll a route is not based on theoretical economic efficiency issues but rather on a strategy to lessen the financial burden on the state by freeing up more money with the implementation of toll roads. This strategy thus allows the state to maintain those roads funded through the national fiscus by tolling certain routes and thereby continue to maintain and expand the road infrastructure with the given financial constraints. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references.

published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts

E-tolling was recently implemented on roads in Gauteng, South Africa. This gave rise to a great deal of protest by road users and a court battle between the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance, a body representing road users. The e-tolling system was criticised at various levels and on numerous grounds, some financial and others appearing to be emotional. This thesis attempted to analyse the various grounds for objection against the system, the main goal of the research being to analyse e-tolling in Gauteng to ascertain whether or not the introduction of e-tolling was justified or whether an alternative method of taxation to pay for the upgrading of Gauteng roads would have been more cost-effective. Secondary data in the form of documents from multiple sources was used in the analysis, including an Economic Impact Assessment that was one of the key inputs into the decision to introduce e-tolling. It was found that there are multiple problems plaguing the e-toll system and e-tolling is not the most cost-effective taxation method of paying for Gauteng roads. Using a fuel levy or general tax revenue available to the National Treasury were both found to be more cost-effective methods as they would have achieved the same result (repairing and upgrading specific Gauteng roads), at a cost of R20,0913 billion less than e-tolling. It was suggested that the best taxation method/s to pay for the roads would have been using a fuel levy and general tax revenue as the primary funding methods, with vehicle licensing fees and long distance toll roads as secondary methods to aid the primary methods.

The current condition of the nation’s transportation system is of great concern to State Departments of Transportation. Currently, funds in many state transportation budgets are depleting. Nowadays, State DOT officials together with researchers are exploring various transportation financing approaches and they are considering the utility, merits, challenges, and impacts of these approaches. A major financing approach being considered relies on the collection of tolls on existing toll roads and on roads on which tolls are not presently collected. Recent technology advancements in Open Road Tolling and All-Electronic Tolling have provided State DOTs with the opportunity to consider expanding the use of toll revenue to finance transportation investments. These two types of tolling technologies appeal to motorists by allowing them to maintain their current highway speed while going through a toll plaza. In addition, many State DOT officials now view toll based approaches as viable “user fee” based strategies together with other alternative approaches such as the fuel tax and sales tax. Central to this research is a case study of the Boston Metropolitan area. The case study includes the formulation and preliminary evaluation of toll based financing approaches potentially suitable for consideration in Massachusetts. The approaches include increases to existing tolls and placing tolls on selected roadways not currently tolled. The evaluation includes estimates of changes in demand and anticipated revenues associated with these toll based approaches. It is expected that the results of this research will be of interest to State DOT officials in Massachusetts and other states.