EFFECT OF ROAD PRICING ON THE TOTAL TRAVEL DISTANCE IN A RADIAL-ARC NETWORK

Abstract

This paper presents a continuous approximation model for analyzing the effect of road pricing on the total travel distance. An analytical expression for the total travel distance in road pricing is obtained for a circular city with a radial-arc network. The analytical expression demonstrates how the size of the toll area, the toll level, and the travel cost affect the total travel distance. The result shows that both a high toll and a large toll area are required to reduce the total travel distance. The model explicitly considers through, inward, outward, and city traffic. The effect of road pricing on each traffic can then be examined separately. Road pricing has little impact on the total travel distance of through traffic because through traffic can make a detour around the toll area.