Nowadays, there is increasing number of facilities that implement various pricing strategies in order to manage increasing traffic demand. Most of these strategies use traffic data collected on several points in the system, aggregate them in certain aggregation interval and calculate tolls based on them. Some strategies derive performance measures (as traffic density) based on aggregated data, and define tolls. However, derived performance measures tend to underestimate traffic conditions and data aggregation interval can smooth traffic data. On the other hand, travel time has not been utilized in order to calculate user tolls on such systems, and yet it can directly measure users delay in the system, and directly capture field conditions. In addition, technology to collect travel times is becoming more popular and used in transportation systems. Hence, this study aims to test alternative methods for toll calculation that will rely on travel time data and compare their performance with currently utilized toll calculation algorithm on I-95 Express lanes in South Florida. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

"Thesis submitted to Bureau of Highway Traffic, Yale University."

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 107-108).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 107-108). Also available in print.

<p> </p><p><em>For Whom the Bell Tolls</em> is Ernest Hemingway's story of the Spanish Civil War. This war has often been seen as a conflict between good and evil, and the novel is frequently viewed as a way of illustrating the brotherhood of man in its portrayal of how Robert Jordan fights as a volunteer for the republicans against the fascists. This essay shows that Jordan actually loses his faith in the war. I instead propose that his determination to perform his mission is regained through Maria, and that he integrates with her as he finishes his mission. Initially, Jordan becomes alienated because he discovers the hopelessness and immorality of the republican struggle. The fascists are really not true enemies, and the republicans seem to have become the very evil that they originally set out to destroy. His faith in his mission is regained through Maria, and the completion of his mission becomes entwined with his integration with her. It becomes clear that she, a character whose thematic importance has often been neglected, is a part of the natural world. By becoming a part of nature, Jordan can thus become an eternal part of her. As he finishes his mission, his integration with nature intensifies. As he awaits death after having finished his mission, he literally becomes a part of nature and thematically a part of Maria, and even though he will die, the lovers are united. This, I suggest, is the complete integration that Jordan experiences.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

For Whom the Bell Tolls is Ernest Hemingway's story of the Spanish Civil War. This war has often been seen as a conflict between good and evil, and the novel is frequently viewed as a way of illustrating the brotherhood of man in its portrayal of how Robert Jordan fights as a volunteer for the republicans against the fascists. This essay shows that Jordan actually loses his faith in the war. I instead propose that his determination to perform his mission is regained through Maria, and that he integrates with her as he finishes his mission. Initially, Jordan becomes alienated because he discovers the hopelessness and immorality of the republican struggle. The fascists are really not true enemies, and the republicans seem to have become the very evil that they originally set out to destroy. His faith in his mission is regained through Maria, and the completion of his mission becomes entwined with his integration with her. It becomes clear that she, a character whose thematic importance has often been neglected, is a part of the natural world. By becoming a part of nature, Jordan can thus become an eternal part of her. As he finishes his mission, his integration with nature intensifies. As he awaits death after having finished his mission, he literally becomes a part of nature and thematically a part of Maria, and even though he will die, the lovers are united. This, I suggest, is the complete integration that Jordan experiences.

The unbalanced traffic flow in the three Road Harbour Crossings (RHCs) connecting Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula is a very serious transportation problem in Hong Kong. A very important question about the toll structures, i.e. how to set the toll for different vehicle types, is raised during the study of the utilization of the three RHCs. Traditionally, the toll structure is determined according to the cost of maintenance contribution. A per axle pricing system is being adopted in many examples in the world. In transportation economics, the toll charge is studied extensively. However, no study has been done on the methodology to determine the optimum toll structure. This dissertation suggests a new methodology to determine the optimum toll structure. It suggests each type of vehicles should pay the same full cost, i.e. monetary cost plus the time cost. Value of time and occupancy are emphasized during the consideration of the time cost of each type of vehicles. As the time cost of the vehicles varies with the congestion level, the optimum toll structure depends on the congestion level of the road. This dissertation investigates the factors affecting the demand and supply of the RHCs. They are used to predict the total travel time and social welfare under different toll structures. It shows the suggested methodology can maximize the social welfare generated from the tunnel. Optimum toll for CHT is found using the suggested methodology. Optimum toll for EHC and WHC after their franchises expire in 2016 and 2023 are also found. Recommendations are also made in this dissertation to reduce the possible objections from the general public due to the toll adjustments. / published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning

As many variable pricing projects are still in the implementation stage, long-run driver responses to the variable tolls are largely unknown. This research examined the long-run changes in driver behavior in an existing variable pricing project in Lee County, Florida. Using empirical evidence, it was found that over time the price elasticities of demand on the Lee County toll bridges have decreased from -0.42 to - 0.11 (Midpoint Memorial Bridge) and from -0.31 to -0.06 (Cape Coral Bridge) during the early morning discount period. The elasticities have decreased, but to a lesser extent, during the late morning and early afternoon discount periods. A discount period volume spreading ratio was also developed to analyze these changes. The results from this analysis confirmed the elasticity results. In addition to the empirical analysis of travel patterns discussed above, a telephone survey of drivers was conducted. The survey results indicated that certain driver characteristics such as higher frequency of trips, commute trip purpose, full-time employment status, more people in the household, higher education, and age between 25-34 years, were all indicators that the participant may increase his or her variable pricing usage over time. Other characteristics, including being retired and having a household income less than $16,000, were indicators that the driver may not increase variable pricing participation. Binary logit and semiparametric models were also developed to examine socio-economic and commute characteristics that may influence a driver increasing his or her participation in a variable pricing program. The results from these two variable toll bridges in Lee County indicated a decrease in variable toll price elasticity over time. However, these results may not be typical for variable pricing projects. Factors such as alternative routes, different traveler demographics, traffic congestion levels, and size of the toll discount may influence the results obtained from other variable pricing projects. However, the methodology developed in this research can be applied to other projects in order to determine those toll price elasticities of demand.

The convergence of transport, communication, computing and positioning technologies has enabled a smart car revolution. As a result, pricing of roads based on telematics technologies has gained significant attention. While there are promised benefits, systematic disclosure of precise location has the ability to impinge on privacy of a special kind, known as location privacy. The aim of this thesis is to provide technical designs that enhance the location privacy of motorists without compromising the benefits of accurate pricing. However, this research looks beyond a solely technology-based solution, For example, the ethical implications of the use of GPS data in pricing models have not been fully understood. Likewise. minimal research exists to evaluate the technical vulnerabilities that could be exploited to avoid criminal or financial penalties. To design a privacy-aware system, it is important to understand the needs of the stakeholders, most importantly the motorists. Knowledge about the anticipated privacy preferences of motorists is important in order to make reasonable predictions about their future willingness to adopt these systems. There is limited research so far Otl user perceptions regarding specific payment options in the uptake of privacy-aware systems. This thesis provides a critical privacy assessment of two mobility pricing systems, namely electronic tolls and mobility-priced insurance. As a result of this assessment. policy recommendations arc developed which could support a common approach in facilitating privacy-aware mobility-pricing strategies. This thesis also evaluates the existing and potential inferential threats and vulnerabilities to develop security and privacy recommendations for privacy-aware pricing designs for tolls and insurance. Utilising these policy recommendations and analysing user-perception with regards to the feasibility of sustaining privacy and willingness to pay for privacy, two privacy-aware mobility pricing designs have been presented which bridge the entire array of privacy interests and bring them together into a unified approach capable of sustaining legal protection as well as satisfying privacy requirements of motorists. It is maintained that it is only by social and technical analysis working in tandem that critical privacy issues in relation to location can be addressed.

published_or_final_version / Transport Studies / Master / Master of Arts