An effectiveness analysis of Tehran peak-based traffic scheme, a travel behavior model

One of the ways to manage private car traffic is conjestion pricing, which reduces the utility private cars. This solution is effective when it can change the travel behavior of private car users. To determine the effectiveness of this strategy, examining users' travel behavior after pricing (revealed preference) will have more accurate results. This policy is also used to reduce congestion in the central part of Tehran. The policy of congestion pricing zone of Tehran, changed in May 1397. Based on these changes, personal car users should pay tolls for entering the pricing area based on the time of entry and exit (peak and non-peak hours). In this study, to evaluate the effectiveness of the new pricing strategy for congestion pricing zone of Tehran, we collected 422 questionnaires by the revealed preferred method in November 1397, and the changes in travel behavior of users in that area is analyzed. For this purpose, after implementing frequency analysis, the multiple logit discrete choice model has been used. Based on the results of the frequency analysis of the collected sample, 52.28% of users did not change the way they traveled to the area after changing the pricing strategy. The results of the multinomial logit model to examine changes in users' travel behavior, show that personal car users are more inclined to travel without any change. Based on the results of marginal effects, by changing the living location of people from within the congestion pricing zone of Tehran to outside second ring of pricing, the share of the option “without changing the trip” increases by 38.56%.