Optimal Cordon-Based Congestion Pricing Considering Feasible Cordons and Congestion Transfer

As one of the most effective traffic demand management measures, cordon-based congestion pricing can alleviate recurrent traffic congestion. Existing methods of determining the toll cordon require an excessive investigation and calculation, and the model assumptions are too idealistic. This article attempts to reduce the amount of required calculation by introducing feasible cordons. Through GPS data of floating cars, an accurate identification of the research scope and a feasible cordon for congestion pricing can be achieved. Further, considering multi-user choices and congestion transfer when pricing is imposed, this article establishes a joint bi-level model to determine the toll cordons and rate simultaneously. The upper level of the model aims at maximizing social welfare with the restriction of congestion transfer. The lower level of the model is a road network equilibrium model in which the value of time is considered. A combined algorithm is adopted to solve the bi-level model. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified by taking Changchun as an example. This article provides a methodological support for designing a feasible and an effective cordon-based congestion pricing scheme.