The introduction of motorway tolls would be expected to cause some traffic to cease use of motorways, and transfer to alternative non-tolled routes. The MCONTRM model was used to estimate the effects in the area served by the M2, M20, A2, A20 and M26 between the M25 and the channel ports. A range of toll rates was investigated including the 1.5p/mile rate and the toll producing a 10% diversion level (2.5p/mile) at 1994 costings. Network resource costs, based on COBA9, were calculated for all cases. The model was also used to show the change in amount of use made of motorways: drivers wishing to reduce costs by avoiding motorway tolls may still use motorways for shorter distances, notably where the alternative routes cause unacceptably long journey delays. The model showed a greater transfer of traffic to rural routes than to urban routes. The great majority of motorway trips were very short, and this feature was shown more strongly as tolls were raised. (A) (This report is also included on the TRL CD-ROM entitled "Research on road user charging 1995-1998"). For the covering abstract see C 12559 CD-ROM.
Samenvatting