How Politics Even How Politics Even Affect Good Pricing Affect Good Pricing ProjectsProjects

Eric N. Schreffler, ESTCEric N. Schreffler, ESTC

TRB Int’l Symposium on Road TRB Int’l Symposium on Road Pricing Pricing

Key Biscayne, FloridaKey Biscayne, Florida

November 21, 2003November 21, 2003

My Involvement in I-15 My Involvement in I-15 San DiegoSan Diego

Part of SDSU Evaluation TeamPart of SDSU Evaluation Team

Performed Institutional AssessmentPerformed Institutional Assessment

Interviewed 40 stakeholdersInterviewed 40 stakeholders

Performed first Bus StudyPerformed first Bus Study

Prepared evaluation plan for Prepared evaluation plan for Managed Managed Lanes Pricing ProjectLanes Pricing Project

I-15 FasTrak Pilot ProjectI-15 FasTrak Pilot ProjectSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California

Uses 8 mi/14 km reversible HOV facilityUses 8 mi/14 km reversible HOV facility

SOVs pay US$0.50 – 4.00 per tripSOVs pay US$0.50 – 4.00 per trip

Toll varies with volumes in HOV LanesToll varies with volumes in HOV Lanes

FasTrak accounts debited monthlyFasTrak accounts debited monthly

Revenue for operations and transitRevenue for operations and transit

Continuing beyond federal pilot Continuing beyond federal pilot

Existing I-15 FacilityExisting IExisting I--15 Facility15 Facility

I-15 Express Lane/HOV I-15 Express Lane/HOV AccessAccess

Variable Toll Message Variable Toll Message SignsSigns

FASTRAK TransponderFASTRAK Transponder

Enforcement by CHPEnforcement by CHP

Inland Breeze Bus Inland Breeze Bus ServiceService

Now for the Politics…Now for the Politics…

Solely my opinion!!!Solely my opinion!!!

Not SDSU, SANDAG, Caltrans, Not SDSU, SANDAG, Caltrans, FHWAFHWA

Political champion enabled Political champion enabled concept to concept to become realitybecome reality

Good marriage between concept Good marriage between concept and and desires of champion, but…desires of champion, but…

The Political ChampionThe Political Champion

Began as mayor of Began as mayor of

town in corridortown in corridor

Mayor “Champion”Mayor “Champion”

Wanted monorail or Wanted monorail or other solution to other solution to relieve congestion relieve congestion on town road…on town road…

or expansion of or expansion of lightlight

rail line on 15rail line on 15

Boardmember Boardmember “Champion”“Champion”

Wanted new bus Wanted new bus service in corridor service in corridor to prove demand to prove demand for high capacity for high capacity transit transit

Insisted on unique Insisted on unique red busesred buses

Assemblyman “Champion”Assemblyman “Champion”

Assured revenue Assured revenue could only go to could only go to “transit capital “transit capital and operating and and operating and HOV facility HOV facility improvements”improvements”

Caltrans imposed Caltrans imposed LOS thresholdLOS threshold

Findings from San DiegoFindings from San Diego

IImproved efficiency of HOV lanesmproved efficiency of HOV lanes

Carpooling has not suffered as a resultCarpooling has not suffered as a result

Pricing is an option, not impositionPricing is an option, not imposition

Users love it; non-users don’t really Users love it; non-users don’t really carecare

FasTrak cross-subsidizes public FasTrak cross-subsidizes public transporttransport

What About the Red What About the Red Buses?Buses?

About $1 M of $2 M in revenue to transitAbout $1 M of $2 M in revenue to transit Original route attracted reverse Original route attracted reverse

commuterscommuters Did not attract solo driversDid not attract solo drivers Did not meet original expectationsDid not meet original expectations Route split to add commuter runsRoute split to add commuter runs About 130,000 annual boardingsAbout 130,000 annual boardings

How else could revenue be How else could revenue be used?used?

User-side subsidy:User-side subsidy:

-- carpoolerscarpoolers

-- vanpoolersvanpoolers

-- bus ridersbus riders

-- teleworkersteleworkers Marketing of HOV modesMarketing of HOV modes Support county commuter express Support county commuter express

busesbuses

What do other politicos What do other politicos think?think?

Interviewed city and county elected Interviewed city and county elected officials representing corridorofficials representing corridor

Initially saw toll as unfair tax, but Initially saw toll as unfair tax, but liked federal pilot fundingliked federal pilot funding

Knew that users were happyKnew that users were happy Did not see pricing as part of long-Did not see pricing as part of long-

term solution in corridor term solution in corridor

Could it have been better?Could it have been better?

Widely viewed as U.S. success storyWidely viewed as U.S. success story Did not fully test elasticityDid not fully test elasticity Did improve efficiency of HOV lanesDid improve efficiency of HOV lanes Could have improved effectiveness Could have improved effectiveness

by increasing HOV useby increasing HOV use Red buses are good…could have Red buses are good…could have

been betterbeen better

More InformationMore Information

www.sandag.org/fastrakwww.sandag.org/fastrak