Seattle Variable Tolling Study Prepared by: in conjunction with and the City of Seattle Department of Transportation May 2009 Seattle Variable Tolling Study Executive Summary CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Study Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Why Tolling? .................................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Tolling Basics .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.4 Evolution of Tolling ........................................................................................................................ 12 1.5 Report Layout................................................................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 2. TOLLING CONSIDERATIONS FOR SEATTLE ....................................................................... 14 2.1 Seattle’s Tolling Interests ............................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Legal Considerations ...................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Implementation Considerations .................................................................................................... 17 2.4 Environmental Considerations ....................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Organizational Considerations ....................................................................................................... 19 2.6 Technological Considerations ........................................................................................................ 20 2.7 Financial Considerations ................................................................................................................ 21 2.8 Diversion Impacts........................................................................................................................... 23 2.9 Equity ............................................................................................................................................. 24 2.10 Public Outreach .............................................................................................................................. 24 2.11 Complementary Policy Changes .................................................................................................... 25 CHAPTER 3. ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL TOLLING CONCEPTS ............................................................ 27 3.1 Regional Tolling Concepts .............................................................................................................. 27 3.2 Seattle Urban Mobility Plan and Central Waterfront Process ....................................................... 30 3.3 PSRC Modeling Summary Results .................................................................................................. 32 CHAPTER 4. CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS .................................................................................... 42 4.1 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 42 4.2 Next Steps ...................................................................................................................................... 42 4.3 Eco-Point: A tolling alternative ...................................................................................................... 42 APPENDIX A: PRICING AND TOLLING TERMINOLOGY AND OPTIONS ................................................. 45 Terminology ................................................................................................................................................ 45 Potential Tolling Options ............................................................................................................................ 51 APPENDIX B: LEGISLATION AND RELATED AREA TOLLING STUDIES .................................................... 53 Existing Legislation ...................................................................................................................................... 53 Federal Legislation ...................................................................................................................................... 53 State Legislation .......................................................................................................................................... 55 Destination 2040 – Puget Sound Coordinated Pricing Activities ................................................................ 62 1 Seattle Variable Tolling Study Executive Summary King County Pricing Study Summary ........................................................................................................... 62 Background ................................................................................................................................................. 62 Overall Recommendation ........................................................................................................................... 62 Estimated Revenue ..................................................................................................................................... 63 Implementation Costs ................................................................................................................................. 63 APPENDIX C: URBAN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS (UPAS) AND CONGESTION REDUCTION DEMONSTRATION (CRD) INITIATIVES ................................................................................................ 65 San Francisco UPA ....................................................................................................................................... 65 Minneapolis-St. Paul UPA ........................................................................................................................... 66 New York City UPA ...................................................................................................................................... 67 Miami UPA .................................................................................................................................................. 69 Chicago CRD ................................................................................................................................................ 70 Los Angeles CRD .......................................................................................................................................... 70 Atlanta CRD ................................................................................................................................................. 71 APPENDIX D: DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ROAD PRICING EXAMPLES ........................................ 73 US Road Pricing Project Examples .............................................................................................................. 73 International Road Pricing Projects Summary ............................................................................................ 75 APPENDIX E: CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPING A SEATTLE CONGESTION PRICING PROGRAM ........ 87 Tolling Program Equipment ........................................................................................................................ 87 Public Transportation Investment .............................................................................................................. 87 Pedestrian and Bicycle Infrastructure Improvements ................................................................................ 88 Highway and Street Improvements ............................................................................................................ 88 Use of Toll Revenue to Meet Seattle’s Interests ........................................................................................ 88 General Tolling Strategies that Meet Seattle’s Interests ............................................................................ 89 APPENDIX F: DESIGNING AND EVALUATING A TOLLING SYSTEM ....................................................... 92 Developing and Evaluating Pricing Strategies and Concepts ...................................................................... 92 Screening Process ....................................................................................................................................... 93 International Experience ............................................................................................................................. 93 Pre-Implementation Outreach on Tolling in the Puget Sound Region ....................................................... 94 Key Areas for Analysis and Evaluation Factors ........................................................................................... 97 Transportation Performance Indicators ..................................................................................................... 98 Sustainability