The National Traffic and Transport Plan (NVVP) and the `Big Accessibility Push' (BOR) facilitate pilots with transportation pricing in the Netherlands. Political and social support are being anchored. Elements of this new policy are: let the user pay, and let individuals make their own choices. One of the transportation pricing strategies are toll express lanes. In the province of Zuid-Holland, a feasibility study is being done on two locations. The pilots will start in 2002 and take two years. The goals are to acquire knowledge on `how express lanes work' and on drivers' willingness-to-pay. The project includes a lot of `soft' research on marketing/communication, public support and market surveys. Public support and social issues are essential factors for success in such an innovative project. The main criteria in the feasibility study are: Can you make it and does it work; Can you have a good pilot project; and is there (local) support? The A4 location uses the extra capacity made in the second Beneluxtunnel project, and the A16 location paves a part of the wide central reserve. Two express lanes in California (USA) show, among other things, that: willingness-to-pay is a lot more than passing a bit of traffic jam (there are users in the middle of the night); involving road users is essential; and that a reliable technology is a condition for success. By signing the BOR in early October 2000, the final go/no go decision is made for the pilots. (A)
Abstract