Integration of traffic and economic models for evaluation of urban transport policy

Persons :

• M.  TOINT Philippe - Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix (FUNDP)
  Financed belgian partner
  Duration: 1/12/1997-30/11/2000
  
• Prof. dr.  PROOST Stef - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven)
  Financed belgian partner
  Duration: 1/12/1997-30/11/2000
  

Description :

Objectives

The research objective is to merge economic pricing models and traffic models (network models), so as to allow an improved assessment of urban transport and environmental policies. The resulting model will be applied in a case study (or case studies).


Methodology

We will start from existing economic models, which emphasise demand and welfare evaluation, and from existing network models, which emphasise road network characteristics and traffic flows. We will look for the best way to integrate these models, aiming to fully integrate them into a numerical model. Important research topics concern the optimal level of spatial (dis)aggregation, adding public transport modes to the existing network model, improving the cost representation in the existing economic model, and the construction of a welfare measure in a spatially disaggregated model.


Potential users

The case studies are of direct use to policy preparation.
The new method is useful for policy analysis in Belgian and European cities.
The method will be published in scientific journals. Further publications are foreseen on the impact of urban topology on transport policy.


Link to Sustainable Development

Transport policies will be assessed through a social welfare criterion. Social welfare comprises environmental values (through monetary valuation of external costs like noise and air pollution), aspects of traffic safet (through external accident costs), private costs (time, resource costs, transaction costs) and aspects of public finance.
Social welfare is a systematic and comprehensive criterion for evaluation of sustainable mobility in its multidimensional aspects.

Documentation :

• Integratie van verkeers- en economische modellen voor evaluatie van stedelijk transportbeleid: Eindverslag
  
• Integration of traffic and economic models for the assessment of urban transport policy: Summary
  

Integratie van verkeers- en economische modellen voor evaluatie van stedelijk transportbeleid: eindverslag    Brussel: DWTC, 2001 (SP0878)
[To download] 

Integratie van verkeers- en economische modellen voor evaluatie van stedelijk transportbeleid: samenvatting    Brussel: DWTC, 2001 (SP0879)
[To download] 

Integration of traffic and economic models for the assessment of urban transport policy: summary    Brussels: OSTC, 2001 (SP0880)
[To download]