Vol. 12, No. 1 - January/February 2001

Charging for the Use of Roads
Controversy over road charges continues to rage, both in this country and abroad. Attempts to introduce "congestion pricing" in Boulder CO, Minneapolis MN, and Portland OR have been rebuffed, while in London and the Netherlands, "road pricing" initiatives are meeting with determined opposition from local officials and automobile clubs. And yet, road charges in the form of tolls and "value pricing" are widely embraced throughout the world. It seems that some pricing schemes are more acceptable than others. What accounts for the difference?

A New Agenda for the Federal Surface Transportation Program - Commentary
What changes will surface transportation policy and programs undergo in the Bush Administration? As we go to press, transition work has only just begun and any predictions would be sheer speculation. However, there is no lack of critical issues and challenges that could influence the surface transportation agenda of the new administration.

Peak Hour Congestion is Inescapable...
"Peak-hour congestion is inescapable" says Anthony Downs, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. In this commentary, reprinted from The Washington Post, Mr. Downs restates and reinforces his provocative thesis, first featured in the July/August 1999 issue of Innovation Briefs.

The Traveler Information Industry Today
Like much of the entire Intelligent Transportation Systems industry, the traveler information sector is in a state of flux. Contributing to the ferment are rapidly evolving technology, rising competition and changing expectations concerning market demand and profitability.

Charging for the Use of Roads
Controversy over road charges continues to rage, both in this country and abroad. Attempts to introduce "congestion pricing" in Boulder CO, Minneapolis MN, and Portland OR have been rebuffed, while in London and the Netherlands, "road pricing" initiatives are meeting with determined opposition from local officials and automobile clubs. And yet, road charges in the form of tolls and "value pricing" are widely embraced throughout the world. It seems that some pricing schemes are more acceptable than others. What accounts for the difference?

Passenger Information Systems
Electronic passenger information systems, in use for many years in Europe and Japan, are beginning to make an appearance in U.S. cities. The new systems use Global Positioning Satellite technology to track vehicles while on route, calculate predicted arrival times and transmit arrival information in real time to stationary electronic displays at rail stations, bus stops and handheld wireless devices.

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