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OPT-IN: A Transition Strategy to Efficient Road User Charges  Jack
Faucett Associates, a pioneer in the fields transportation economics and
public policy, is undertaking innovative research in the field of congestion
pricing. In 2007, we introduced the concept of OPT-IN through a
working paper published by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) entitled,
"Opt-in:
Transition Strategy to Efficient Road User Charges".Our paper introduces the Opt-in Highway User Fee Plan (Opt-in) which would allow participating users to instrument their vehicles (could be OEM for new vehicles or after-market) with appropriate technology to record the miles driven by time of day, facility type, speed etc. This information would be utilized to establish a charge for road use for each vehicle based on a rational pricing scheme that charged the fee based on fixed and marginal system costs for the particular service provided; facility type, time of day, level of service, and other selected attributes considered. Participants would not be charged current user fees. National transportation agencies are embracing the evolution to efficient road pricing. In the United Kingdom, transportation leaders have announced a plan to eliminate the fuel levy in favor of a national satellite based road charging system by 2015. In the US a report from a Panel of the National Academy of Sciences recognized that fuel taxes would soon be unable to support the national highway finance needs and would be replaced with a road tolling system. Finally, in June of 2006, the US Secretary of transportation, Norman Y. Mineta, announced a new plan to address congestion that was founded in the need for efficient road tolling systems. Despite this movement to efficient road pricing, little research has been undertaken on transition strategies for the current to the future system. Transition of such a major system can be difficult and costly. For more information on OPT-IN and other congestion pricing strategies, contact Michael Lawrence, President of JFA.
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