how politics even affect good pricing projects
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How Politics Even Affect Good Pricing Projects. Eric N. Schreffler, ESTC TRB Int’l Symposium on Road Pricing Key Biscayne, Florida November 21, 2003. My Involvement in I-15 San Diego. Part of SDSU Evaluation Team Performed Institutional Assessment Interviewed 40 stakeholders - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
How Politics Even How Politics Even Affect Good Pricing Affect Good Pricing ProjectsProjects
Eric N. Schreffler, ESTCEric N. Schreffler, ESTC
TRB Int’l Symposium on Road TRB Int’l Symposium on Road Pricing Pricing
Key Biscayne, FloridaKey Biscayne, Florida
November 21, 2003November 21, 2003
My Involvement in I-15 My Involvement in I-15 San DiegoSan Diego
Part of SDSU Evaluation TeamPart of SDSU Evaluation Team
Performed Institutional AssessmentPerformed Institutional Assessment
Interviewed 40 stakeholdersInterviewed 40 stakeholders
Performed first Bus StudyPerformed first Bus Study
Prepared evaluation plan for Prepared evaluation plan for Managed Managed Lanes Pricing ProjectLanes Pricing Project
I-15 FasTrak Pilot ProjectI-15 FasTrak Pilot ProjectSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
Uses 8 mi/14 km reversible HOV facilityUses 8 mi/14 km reversible HOV facility
SOVs pay US$0.50 – 4.00 per tripSOVs pay US$0.50 – 4.00 per trip
Toll varies with volumes in HOV LanesToll varies with volumes in HOV Lanes
FasTrak accounts debited monthlyFasTrak accounts debited monthly
Revenue for operations and transitRevenue for operations and transit
Continuing beyond federal pilot Continuing beyond federal pilot
Existing I-15 FacilityExisting IExisting I--15 Facility15 Facility
I-15 Express Lane/HOV I-15 Express Lane/HOV AccessAccess
Variable Toll Message Variable Toll Message SignsSigns
FASTRAK TransponderFASTRAK Transponder
Enforcement by CHPEnforcement by CHP
Inland Breeze Bus Inland Breeze Bus ServiceService
Now for the Politics…Now for the Politics…
Solely my opinion!!!Solely my opinion!!!
Not SDSU, SANDAG, Caltrans, Not SDSU, SANDAG, Caltrans, FHWAFHWA
Political champion enabled Political champion enabled concept to concept to become realitybecome reality
Good marriage between concept Good marriage between concept and and desires of champion, but…desires of champion, but…
The Political ChampionThe Political Champion
Began as mayor of Began as mayor of
town in corridortown in corridor
Mayor “Champion”Mayor “Champion”
Wanted monorail or Wanted monorail or other solution to other solution to relieve congestion relieve congestion on town road…on town road…
or expansion of or expansion of lightlight
rail line on 15rail line on 15
Boardmember Boardmember “Champion”“Champion”
Wanted new bus Wanted new bus service in corridor service in corridor to prove demand to prove demand for high capacity for high capacity transit transit
Insisted on unique Insisted on unique red busesred buses
Assemblyman “Champion”Assemblyman “Champion”
Assured revenue Assured revenue could only go to could only go to “transit capital “transit capital and operating and and operating and HOV facility HOV facility improvements”improvements”
Caltrans imposed Caltrans imposed LOS thresholdLOS threshold
Findings from San DiegoFindings from San Diego
IImproved efficiency of HOV lanesmproved efficiency of HOV lanes
Carpooling has not suffered as a resultCarpooling has not suffered as a result
Pricing is an option, not impositionPricing is an option, not imposition
Users love it; non-users don’t really Users love it; non-users don’t really carecare
FasTrak cross-subsidizes public FasTrak cross-subsidizes public transporttransport
What About the Red What About the Red Buses?Buses?
About $1 M of $2 M in revenue to transitAbout $1 M of $2 M in revenue to transit Original route attracted reverse Original route attracted reverse
commuterscommuters Did not attract solo driversDid not attract solo drivers Did not meet original expectationsDid not meet original expectations Route split to add commuter runsRoute split to add commuter runs About 130,000 annual boardingsAbout 130,000 annual boardings
How else could revenue be How else could revenue be used?used?
User-side subsidy:User-side subsidy:
-- carpoolerscarpoolers
-- vanpoolersvanpoolers
-- bus ridersbus riders
-- teleworkersteleworkers Marketing of HOV modesMarketing of HOV modes Support county commuter express Support county commuter express
busesbuses
What do other politicos What do other politicos think?think?
Interviewed city and county elected Interviewed city and county elected officials representing corridorofficials representing corridor
Initially saw toll as unfair tax, but Initially saw toll as unfair tax, but liked federal pilot fundingliked federal pilot funding
Knew that users were happyKnew that users were happy Did not see pricing as part of long-Did not see pricing as part of long-
term solution in corridor term solution in corridor
Could it have been better?Could it have been better?
Widely viewed as U.S. success storyWidely viewed as U.S. success story Did not fully test elasticityDid not fully test elasticity Did improve efficiency of HOV lanesDid improve efficiency of HOV lanes Could have improved effectiveness Could have improved effectiveness
by increasing HOV useby increasing HOV use Red buses are good…could have Red buses are good…could have
been betterbeen better
More InformationMore Information
www.sandag.org/fastrakwww.sandag.org/fastrak