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 Part of SDSU Evaluation Team Performed Institutional Assessment Performed Institutional Assessment Interviewed 40 stakeholders Interviewed 40 stakeholders Performed first Bus Study Performed first Bus Study Prepared evaluation plan for Managed Lanes Pricing Project Prepared evaluation plan for Managed Lanes Pricing Project

I-15 FasTrak Pilot Project San Diego, California Uses 8 mi/14 km reversible HOV facility Uses 8 mi/14 km reversible HOV facility SOVs pay US$0.50 – 4.00 per trip SOVs pay US$0.50 – 4.00 per trip Toll varies with volumes in HOV Lanes Toll varies with volumes in HOV Lanes FasTrak accounts debited monthly FasTrak accounts debited monthly Revenue for operations and transit Revenue for operations and transit Continuing beyond federal pilot Continuing beyond federal pilot

I-15 Express Lane/HOV Access

Variable Toll Message Signs

FASTRAK Transponder

Enforcement by CHP

Inland Breeze Bus Service

Now for the Politics… Solely my opinion!!! Solely my opinion!!! Not SDSU, SANDAG, Caltrans, FHWA Not SDSU, SANDAG, Caltrans, FHWA Political champion enabled concept to become reality Political champion enabled concept to become reality Good marriage between concept and desires of champion, but… Good marriage between concept and desires of champion, but…

The Political Champion Began as mayor of Began as mayor of town in corridor town in corridor

Mayor “Champion” Wanted monorail or other solution to relieve congestion on town road… or expansion of light rail line on 15

Boardmember “Champion” Wanted new bus service in corridor to prove demand for high capacity transit Insisted on unique red buses

Assemblyman “Champion” Assured revenue could only go to “transit capital and operating and HOV facility improvements” Caltrans imposed LOS threshold

Findings from San Diego I mproved efficiency of HOV lanes I mproved efficiency of HOV lanes Carpooling has not suffered as a result Carpooling has not suffered as a result Pricing is an option, not imposition Pricing is an option, not imposition Users love it; non-users don’t really care Users love it; non-users don’t really care FasTrak cross-subsidizes public transport FasTrak cross-subsidizes public transport

What About the Red Buses? About $1 M of $2 M in revenue to transit About $1 M of $2 M in revenue to transit Original route attracted reverse commuters Original route attracted reverse commuters Did not attract solo drivers Did not attract solo drivers Did not meet original expectations Did not meet original expectations Route split to add commuter runs Route split to add commuter runs About 130,000 annual boardings About 130,000 annual boardings

How else could revenue be used? User-side subsidy: User-side subsidy: -carpoolers -vanpoolers -bus riders -teleworkers Marketing of HOV modes Marketing of HOV modes Support county commuter express buses Support county commuter express buses

What do other politicos think? Interviewed city and county elected officials representing corridor Interviewed city and county elected officials representing corridor Initially saw toll as unfair tax, but liked federal pilot funding Initially saw toll as unfair tax, but liked federal pilot funding Knew that users were happy Knew that users were happy Did not see pricing as part of long-term solution in corridor Did not see pricing as part of long-term solution in corridor

Could it have been better? Widely viewed as U.S. success story Widely viewed as U.S. success story Did not fully test elasticity Did not fully test elasticity Did improve efficiency of HOV lanes Did improve efficiency of HOV lanes Could have improved effectiveness by increasing HOV use Could have improved effectiveness by increasing HOV use Red buses are good…could have been better Red buses are good…could have been better

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