Using Congestion-Priced Road User Charges to Restore Metropolitan Mobility and Fund Highways

2017 ◽  
Vol 2670 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick DeCorla-Souza
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
User Fees ◽  
Road User ◽  
Time Dynamic ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Transportation Funding ◽  
User Charges ◽  
Public Acceptability ◽  
Highway Facilities ◽  
Generation Mechanisms

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and evaluate a congestion-pricing strategy that could be used in metropolitan areas to supplement revenue generation mechanisms such as mileage-based user fees and fuel taxes. Congestion charges would be applied with transponder-based technology only on limited access metropolitan highway facilities to pay for the costs of their reconstruction and maintenance. Since most of the worst congestion in metropolitan and state roadways occurs on limited access facilities, this strategy would address the goal of restoring mobility without raising the kinds of privacy concerns that appear with regard to other types of more comprehensive road user charging systems that use location-based technology, such as mileage-based user fees. Proceeds from congestion charges could be used to pay for new low-cost, part-time (dynamic) shoulder travel lane capacity and transit and carpooling enhancements. This approach can increase public acceptability by providing multimodal travel alternatives. The paper discusses the strategy in the context of the reconstruction of the freeway system in a hypothetical metropolitan area, with an availability payment public–private partnership project delivery model to design, finance, build, operate, and maintain the improved freeway network. The analysis presented in the paper suggests that the approach could be financially viable and more economically efficient than conventional transportation funding approaches.

Determining Minimum Contract Time for Highway Projects

2000 ◽  
Vol 1712 (1) ◽  
pp. 196-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Fang Shr ◽  
Benjamin P. Thompson ◽  
Jeffrey S. Russell ◽  
Bin Ran ◽  
H. Ping Tserng
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Road User ◽  
User Cost ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Highway Projects ◽  
The Road ◽  
State Highway ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
The Cost ◽  
State Highway Agencies

An increasing number of state highway agencies (SHAs) are using A (cost) + B (time cost) bidding ( A + B bidding) for highway construction. The A + B bidding concept is designed to shorten the total contract time by allowing each contractor to bid the number of days in which the work can be accomplished, in addition to the traditional cost bid. The SHA is then presented with the problem of determining a reasonable range of contract time submitted by the bidders. Most SHAs do not currently restrict the range of B. However, several problems may arise from an unrestricted range of B. First, if no minimum is set for B, a bidder may inflate the cost bid and submit an unreasonably low B, using the excess cost bid to cover the disincentives charged for exceeding the time bid. Second, if no maximum is set for B, then a bidder with a high B and a low-cost bid may be awarded the job and make an unreasonable amount of money from incentive payments. This study develops a quantified model of the price-time bidding contract. A construction cost-versus-time curve is developed from Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) data. The contractor’s price-versus-time curve is then combined with the road-user cost to determine the optimum lower limit to be set on B. Finally, several projects completed by the Florida DOT will be used to illustrate this model.

scholarly journals Low-Cost, Accessible Fabrication Methods for Microfluidics Research in Low-Resource Settings

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang-Tuan Nguyen ◽  
Ha Thach ◽  
Emmanuel Roy ◽  
Khon Huynh ◽  
Cecile Perrault
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Low Resource

Microfluidics are expected to revolutionize the healthcare industry especially in developing countries since it would bring portable, easy-to-use, self-contained diagnostic devices to places with limited access to healthcare. To date, however, microfluidics has not yet been able to live up to these expectations. One non-negligible factor can be attributed to inaccessible prototyping methods for researchers in low-resource settings who are unable to afford expensive equipment and/or obtain critical reagents and, therefore, unable to engage and contribute to microfluidics research. In this paper, we present methods to create microfluidic devices that reduce initial costs from hundreds of thousands of dollars to about $6000 by using readily accessible consumables and inexpensive equipment. By including the scientific community most embedded and aware of the requirements of healthcare in developing countries, microfluidics will be able to increase its reach in the research community and be better informed to provide relevant solutions to global healthcare challenges.

Road User Charges in Britain

1988 ◽  
Vol 98 (390) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Newbery
Keyword(s):  
Road User ◽  
User Charges

The Route Algorithm of Post-Disaster Road Monitoring System

2011 ◽  
Vol 128-129 ◽  
pp. 727-730
Author(s):  
Xu Guang Sun ◽  
Jing Sha He ◽  
Xiao Ling Sun ◽  
Qiu Ge Yang
Keyword(s):  
Wireless Sensor Networks ◽  
Sensor Networks ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Node Number ◽  
Time Dynamic ◽  
System Solution ◽  
Route Algorithm ◽  
Post Disaster

The post-disaster road monitoring system provides an interesting application area for wireless sensor networks. After the earthquake, roads are subject to be blocked by landslides. The people require a scalable and low-cost technology for getting real-time dynamic data about road available because aftershocks occur continuously. Wireless sensor networks are a promising candidate to fulfill these requirements. Then the post-disaster road monitoring system solution is put forward. In this system, the ordered arrangement of node number greatly reduces the complexity of node location and provides the premise and guarantee for designing efficient route algorithm for the system. The algorithms of route established and route forwarding are designed for the arrangement and transmission characteristics of nodes, then are more efficient than general-purpose route protocol.

Road Damage Externalities and Road User Charges

Econometrica ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Newbery
Keyword(s):  
Road User ◽  
User Charges

scholarly journals The long-term effects of free care on birth outcomes: Evidence from a national policy reform in Zambia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mylene Lagarde ◽  
Aurelia Lepine ◽  
Chansa Collins
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
User Fees ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
User Charges ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Institutional Deliveries

As women in many countries still fail to give birth in facilities due to financial barriers, many see the abolition of user fees as a key step on the path towards universal coverage. We exploited the staggered removal of user charges in Zambia from 2006 to estimate the effect of user fee removal over up to five years after the policy change. We used data from the birth histories of two nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys to implement a difference-in-differences analysis and identify the causal impact of removing user charges on institutional and assisted deliveries, caesarean sections and neonatal deaths. We also used the rich survey data to explore heterogeneous effects of the policy. Removing fees had little effect in the short term but large positive effects appeared about two years after the policy change. Institutional deliveries in treated areas increased by 25 to 35%, driven entirely by a reduction in home births. However, there was no evidence that the reform changed the behaviours of women with lower education, the proportion of caesarean sections or reduced neonatal mortality. Institutional deliveries increased where care quality was high, but not where it was low. While abolishing user charges may reduce financial hardship from healthcare payments, it does not necessarily improve equitable access to care or health outcomes. Shifting away from user fees is a necessary but insufficient step towards universal health coverage, and concurrent reforms are needed to target vulnerable populations and improve quality of care.

scholarly journals Real-Time Dynamic Behavior Evaluation of Active Distribution Networks Leveraging Low-Cost PMUs

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 4999
Author(s):  
Xuejun Zheng ◽  
Shaorong Wang ◽  
Xin Su ◽  
Mengmeng Xiao ◽  
Zia Ullah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
The Real ◽  
Time Dynamic ◽  
Dynamic Index ◽  
Active Distribution Networks

The investigation of real-time dynamic behavior evaluation in the active distribution networks (ADNs) is a challenging task, and it has great importance due to the emerging trend of distributed generations, electric vehicles, and flexible loads integration. The advent of new elements influences the dynamic behavior of the electric distribution networks and increases the assessment complexity. However, the proper implementation of low-cost phasor measurement units (PMUs) together with the development of power system applications offer tremendous benefits. Therefore, this paper proposes a PMU-based multi-dimensional dynamic index approach for real-time dynamic behavior evaluation of ADNs. The proposed evaluation model follows the assessment principles of accuracy, integrity, practicability, and adaptability. Additionally, we introduced low-cost PMUs in the assessment model and implemented them for real-time and high-precision monitoring of dynamic behaviors in the entire distribution network. Finally, a complete model called the real-time dynamic characteristics evaluation system is presented and applied to the ADN. It is pertinent to mention that our proposed evaluation methodology does not rely on the network topology or line parameters of the distribution network since only the phasor measurements of node voltage and line current are involved in the dynamic index system. Thus, the presented methodology is well adaptive to different operation states of ADN despite frequent topology changes. The validation of the proposed approach was verified by conducting simulations on the modified IEEE 123-node distribution network. The obtained results verify the effectiveness and relevance of the proposed model for the real-time dynamic behavior evaluation of ADNs.

scholarly journals Transformation Of Lithuanian Road Charging

2021 ◽  
Vol 1202 (1) ◽  
pp. 012008
Author(s):  
Darius Ražinskas ◽  
Aidas Saladžius
Keyword(s):  
Current System ◽  
Road User ◽  
User Charge ◽  
Road Infrastructure ◽  
Legal Decisions ◽  
The Road ◽  
User Charges ◽  
Charging System ◽  
System Maintenance ◽  
Local Road

Abstract The current road user charge in Lithuania is based on a temporary system and is not connected to the actually covered mileage. The time-based charge is not considered to be socially fair; therefore, the principles 'user pays' and 'polluter pays' shall be employed. The charge to be introduced will take into account the interests of local road infrastructure users who are currently paying unreasonably high charge for a short distance covered. If the current system is retained and e-tolling system is not established, heavy vehicle drivers would continue paying aroad user charge by purchasing e-vignette. It would mean that road user charges paid by vehicle owners/holders would not cover the damages directly made by the user and the current road charging system would not guarantee sufficient financing for the maintenance and development of the road infrastructure. Legal decisions on electronic road charging system have not been taken yet; however, the project implementation preparation is underway. The latest Parliamentary approvals were received in September 2020, and it is believed that all necessary legal acts will be amended by the end of 2020. The road charging technology has not been selected yet. However, the conducted project's implementation analysis, the assessment of necessary investments and road charging system maintenance costs revealed that a GPS-based technology would be the most economical one. It is planned to implement the electronic road charging system by the beginning of 2023. Upon the project's implementation, additional financing to ensure high quality and safe main roads should be allocated.

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