Spillover Effect Details
- Policy
-
Swiss Roads Initiative
- Alternative
-
Dynamic Toll Pricing for Congestion Management
- Dimension
- Infrastructure
- Criteria
-
- Time Frame
- 10
- Score
-
- PositiveImpact
- Dynamic toll pricing could lead to a more efficient use of existing road infrastructure, greatly reducing congestion and resulting in lower maintenance costs for the A1 motorway. This efficiency may allow funds to be redirected towards infrastructure enhancements or preservation, potentially creating a more sustainable transport network for future generations.
- NegativeImpact
- If dynamic toll pricing is not effectively managed, it could disproportionately burden lower-income commuters who cannot afford to pay higher fees during peak times. This could exacerbate inequality and push these individuals towards less reliable or more hazardous travel options, creating a cycle of disadvantage that persists across generations.
- Description
- Dynamic toll pricing focuses on managing demand through adjusting tolls based on real-time traffic conditions, but has significant drawbacks that could make it less effective than alternatives. Firstly, the potential failure to reach intended outcomes due to inadequate public acceptance or understanding can hinder participation. Secondly, if toll rates become prohibitively high for lower-income individuals during peak times, it could cause increased road use on secondary roads not equipped for high traffic volumes, thereby negating congestion benefits. Thirdly, the reliance on variable rates may not address the underlying infrastructure deficiencies long-term, potentially leading to a less equitable transportation system overall. Compared to other strategies like smart traffic management and integrated public transport enhancement, which aim to solve congestion through more inclusive means, dynamic pricing ranks poorly, resulting in a score of 2 (bad) for future generations. It does not create assets but rather a form of operational debt as it fails to address wider social equity issues in transport access.