An Equitable, Acceptable and Socially Beneficial Congestion Pricing Design:

A Continuum Modeling Approach

Abstract

Consider a region of an arbitrary shape with multiple Central Business Districts (CBDs) competing for multi-class users that are distributed continuously over the region. Within this region, the road network is represented as a continuum and users patronize in a two-dimensional continuum transportation system to travel to their chosen CBD. A logit-type distribution function is specified to model the probabilistic destination choices made by the different classes of users. In this paper, a cordon-based congestion-pricing model for this continuum network is developed and the optimal location and toll level of the charging cordon is selected based on the equity, acceptability and social benefit of the charging schemes. The cordon-based congestion-pricing model is solved by using the finite element method and a promising Newtonian-based solution algorithm. A numerical example is given to show the usefulness of the proposed model, algorithm and criteria for cordon design and selection.