Return to Transportation Consumer Research  Transportation Consumer Research    Project Summary :: 1  2  3  4  5  6   Background California Private Transportation Company (CPTC) awarded Wilbur Smith Associates and Resource Systems Group a contract to conduct a detailed traffic and revenue study for a proposed toll road through the Santa Anna Canyon. CPTC planned to build new lanes along the median of the Riverside Freeway (S.R. 91) and operate them with congestion pricing and electronic toll collection. Later, CPTC commissioned Resource Systems Group to assist in designing a marketing strategy and to forecast demand for electronic toll collection “transponders.” Project Scope •  Developed two unique computer-based IVIS (Interactive Video Interview Station) surveys to collect information about current travel behaviors, and future conditions under which travelers would use the proposed S.R. 91 toll lanes. •  Administered the IVIS surveys to 900 residents of Riverside and Orange Counties. •  Organized and facilitated a series of convened group sessions regarding the S.R. 91 “Express Lanes” and the proposed tolling system. •  Developed a model to estimate the number of transponders required to meet the demands of potential “Express Lanes” users. Project Results Tolls on the new lanes are varied to encourage travel during off-peak periods and to help maintain free-flowing traffic on the toll lanes. With electronic toll collection technology, travelers place a transponder in the car windshield, and tolls are automatically deducted from an account as the vehicle passes the toll collection area. The new lanes serve as free carpool lanes for vehicles with three or more occupants and provide a faster alternative for vehicles with one or two occupants. Construction of four new toll lanes was completed on schedule, and the S.R. 91 “Express Lanes” opened to the public in December of 1995. The opening of the private toll road received national media attention as an innovative initiative to meet future transportation needs. By the fifth year anniversary of the S.R. 91 express lanes in 2001, 38 million trips had been made by over 130,000 customers, and the toll road continues to receive world wide attention.