Nov. 9, 2011: Effects of Increased Tolls and Congestion Pricing on Bay Bridge Traffic Study Conducted for Metropolitan Transportation Commission
A team of UC Berkeley researchers, led by City and Regional Planning Professor Elizabeth Deakin of the Global Metropolitan Studies Center, and partially supported by UCTC, presented its final report to the Bay Area Toll Authority oversight committee on November 9, 2011 at MTC headquarters in Oakland.
Among the changes brought about beginning in July 2010 when congestion pricing and tolls for previously free carpool lanes went into effect:
- Carpool lane usage declined by 26 percent, while vehicles using the cash/FasTrak lanes increased by three percent.
- Some drivers and carpoolers moved to off-peak periods to avoid the higher toll.
- Travel times improved substantially during certain hours and from some approaches to the bridge, but not all.
- BART is carrying 10-15 percent more riders across the Bay, some of whom are former Bay Bridge drivers and carpoolers.
- Business owners made few changes in practices due to the toll increases, and those who depend on high-cost labor or timely deliveries support congestion pricing as a benefit to them and their employees.
June 23: 2011 Enhancements to the ITS Knowledge Resources Websites
Improving Access to Information on ITS Benefits, Costs, Lessons Learned and Deployment. 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET.
Free Webinar. Registration required.
June 29: Open Payments, Mobile Payments and Personal Identification Verification (PIV) Acceptance
Overview of Innovations in Public Transit Payment Systems. 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET.
Free Webinar. Registration required.
Both Webinars offered as part of a series, Talking Technology and Transportation (T3) by the ITS Professional Capacity Building Program (ITS PCB), in the ITS Joint Program Office.
Ongoing Technical Assistance:
Martin Wachs Distinguished Lecture
Undergraduate transportation educational initiative