Intermodal aspects of mobility pricing
Final Report Abstract
The research project aimed at investigating intermodal aspects of travel demand management applications with a focus on multimodal mobility pricing. Project work started with a closer look at chances and risks of mobility pricing at airports. Like for other transport modes mobility pricing offers significant contributions to achieve political and planning goals at airports. It can be implemented to influence traffic in a goal-oriented way. Although the prerequisites differ from other transport modes, the existing capacity restraints at airports connected with growing demand make the use of mobility pricing even more important. A careful design and evaluation, which particularly consider the special features of different transport flows, is needed. Project work was continued with investigating future challenges of mobility pricing, including multimodal approaches, on traffic data collection. There are strong relations between mobility pricing and traffic data collection influencing the success of instruments in both application areas. Mobility pricing was seen as one example for transportation management, and many of the findings are transferable to other instruments, as are the requirements named. While talking about the future of traffic data collection and its standardization, the challenges given to them must be considered, to make sure that suitable technologies are available for an improved transportation management. How intermodal approaches can look like and how they can support sustainability of transport systems was researched next. The ecological dimension of sustainability means to preserve resources and to protect the environment for future generations. Changes in modal choice can support this by reducing the consumption of raw materials and fuel for necessary mobility as well as by reducing emissions. This is not only supported by the use of environmentally more friendly modes, but also, for example, by the reduction of congestion through mode shifts, etc. The economic dimension of sustainability requires securing a lasting sufficient base for the welfare of people. Again, the easing of congestion, and its internal and external consequences, by modal shifts can help here. The social dimension demands that we do not discriminate between individual social groups, but that we provide equal opportunities to all. As intermodal shifts usually require enhancements of the available alternatives, also here a contribution is possible. Mobility pricing can be very effective in influencing traffic situations in the desired way if it is designed appropriately. It takes account of the social dimension of sustainability, with the advantage that, unlike rigid restrictions, the use of transport modes at all times in all areas is still possible, although it might be more expensive. Even without intermodal approaches mobility pricing can affect the modal split, and thereby support more sustainable transport. By taking an intermodal view from the beginning, which means coordinating different modes and instruments, the desired effects can be enhanced and adjusted more accurately. This will involve several instruments bundled together or one instrument covering several transport modes. Finally, ‘Multimodal Mobility Pricing’ describes the concept of a comprehensive pricing approach including private and public transport modes with the aim to influence transport demand in order to optimize the use of existing supply and therefore reduce costs while enabling necessary traffic. The concept includes three different levels: the scheme design level, i.e. the functional design of the pricing approach like price level, time, and user groups affected or used data; the technical level, i.e. the technological components like user and operator equipment; and the implementation level, i.e. the institutional components involved in operating and decision making. The idea of a multimodal mobility pricing’ is to realise a dynamic pricing concept over all transport modes to match the distribution of demand to existing supply. This needs some kind of integration on all of the three mentioned levels.
Publications
- (2011) Dynamo PLV - dynamic and seamless integration of production, logistics, and transportation. Road & Transport Research 20(2): p. 77-80
Roth, N. and Boltze, M.
- (2011) Future challenges of mobility pricing on traffic data collection. Brisbane, Australia: 2nd International Workshop on Traffic Data Collection & its Standardisation, 22 - 23 September 2011
Roth, N.
- (2012) Supporting sustainability by taking an intermodal view. Rotorua, New Zealand: IPENZ Transportation Group Conference, 19 - 21 March 2012
Roth, N.
- (2012) Supporting sustainability by taking an intermodal view. Rotorua, New Zealand: IPENZ Transportation Group Conference, 19 - 21 March 2012
Roth, N.
