Waiting at ramp meters and traveling on freeways were tested using a computer administered stated preference (CASP) survey and a virtual experience stated preference (VESP) method employing a driving simulator. The selections varied in the number of minutes waiting at a ramp meter with vehicle speed once on the freeway. The subjects ranked the selections in order of preference. The results were statistically analyzed using a binary logit model controlling for demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, daily travel time, and personality scores. The results by the CASP method displayed a preference for freeway congestion to ramp delay, but opposite results were obtained by the VESP method. A number of reasons are posited to explain the difference, but the results indicate that method of stated preference data collection can significantly affect conclusions drawn. (A) "Reprinted with permission from Elsevier".
Abstract