Freight

This study reviews recent developments in road pricing for managing road travel demand and congestion, and identifies potential pricing mechanisms to facilitate freight modal choice based on marginal social costs including environmental and other externalities. The report presents a literature review that identifies key issues related to road pricing principles, objectives, applications, impacts, technologies, and lessons. It is also a working document that provides a platform for subsequent work in this area. A review of international road pricing experience undertaken as part of the study reaffirms the view that public acceptance is critical to the implementation of road pricing. Road pricing is increasingly viewed as a concept that offers considerable benefit to society through its potential to improve road transport efficiency and reduce congestion and other impacts such as air pollution and noise. However, a definition of the precise form of congestion and measurement techniques that estimate the actual amount of congestion and the appropriate charge required, are either lacking or difficult to establish.